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Battle Against HIV And AIDS Is About Partnerships, Experts Say

By 316Networks.com

Published: August 07, 2008

HIV and AIDS experts are teaming up with several prominent church leaders around the country in agreeing that the development of partnerships is the best way to battle against history's most deadliest disease.

Battle Against HIV And AIDS Is About Partnerships, Experts Say

Pastor Rick Warren speaking at XVII International AIDS Conference

Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, executive secretary of the National AIDS Control Commission of Rwanda, recently spoke at at the XVII International AIDS Conference. "After 25 years, HIV is still a new disease, and we need new strategies, tools and programs," said Dr. Binagwaho.

"This is all about partnership, and if we partner it is because we are different, not because we are the same."

Along with Binagwaho, the conference featured a panel discussion featuring Kay and Rick Warren. Rick Warren, author of the best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, has long been sought after building a partnership model amongst sectors of government, faith, and business in the battle against HIV and AIDS.

"Both a one-legged and a two-legged stool will fall over," says Pastor Warren, "but a three-legged stool will stand." Warren adds, "Each of these sectors brings something to the table that the others don't have...If you say the faith community cannot participate in healthcare, you have just taken out most of the world because the amount of those without faith in the world is very small."

Binagwaho throughout the conference revealed how 40 percent of the more than 430 healthcare facilities in Rwanda belong to a church. In addition, more than 98 percent of the people in the country live within a mile from a church, making local pastors ideal candidates to provide healthcare needs.

Dale Dawson, a former investment banker for one of the wealthiest families in America, shared during the conference how he is using his resources and skills to help bring healthcare Rwanda's children.

"One of the unusual things about this partnership with Rwanda," says Dawson, "is that I'm not in the same position to lead with the vision that the Rwandans are." Dawson, who is the founder of Bridge2Rwanda, says, "My role in this is much different; in America, I can lead, as it is my mission, my country and my culture. But in Rwanda, I'm in fact a servant. I'm not a minister, and I'm not a missionary, I'm a businessman who is trying to find significance in the second half of my life - and there are many others like me."

Others key conference participants included Dr. Gil Odendaal, global director of Saddleback Church's HIV/AIDS Initiative; Elizabeth Styffe, co-director and executive director of the Saddleback Orphan Care Initiative and Western Rwanda HIV/AIDS Healthcare Initiative; and Emmanuel Kolini, archbishop of the Anglican Church in Rwanda and chairman of the National Commission for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS, Interfaith/Rwanda, the Institute of Research and Dialogue for Peace and the steering committee for the Purpose Driven/P.E.A.C.E. Plan in Rwanda.

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