AIDS is not punishment from God, Pastor

The Reverend Andy Odonkor, Second Pastor of the Presbyterian Church on the Greenwich Meridian at Tema has refuted the assertion that the HIV/AIDS problem is God's punishment for sexual promiscuity.

He said that the Church must rather respond to the problem with a compassionate programme and move away from the "judgement theory", which has characterised the response of many conservative Christians to HIV/AIDS. Rev. Odonkor was speaking on the topic "HIV/AIDS: The Church's response" at an AIDS awareness seminar sponsored by the Church, the Tema Municipal Assembly and the Ministry of Health at Tema. He said that the judgement theory leaves many questions unanswered. These include why should innocent wives; husbands, haemophiliacs and infants suffer from the infection if God is using it to punish homosexuals and the sexually promiscuous. Rev. Odonkor said, "if the disease is intended to be God's punishment for homosexuals, how come that lesbians seem to be relatively untouched or what is the sin of the child who gets infected with the virus. What is the sin of the person who gets infected through the reception of infected blood, a contaminated syringe, circumcision, hair barbering or manicure and pedicure?" He regretted that the Church, which must respond to this global pandemic in a helpful way, has unfortunately judged, condemned, chastised and rejected those suffering from the disease.

What is needed is a compassionate programme that would engender practical caring response to HIV/AIDS patients, he said, adding that, Christians should not make the dying feel rejected. He said that the Church should help people to face the mystery of death with hope and dignity adding that, Christians must care and show compassion to those suffering from HIV/AIDS and their families. Rev. Odonkor called HIV/AIDS Counselling Departments in churches to support individuals to make informed decisions concerning the disease.

Dr. Deborah Cubagee, Tema Municipal Director of Health said that four percent of the adult population of the country is infected with HIV. She said that the Eastern Region has the highest level of infection followed by the Ashanti and Western Regions with the Northern Region recording the lowest. Dr Cubagee said the prevalence in the Greater Accra region is surprisingly low, compared to the fact that in most African countries some of the highest prevalence rates are usually in the capitals and major urban centres. She said that in the Greater Accra region, Ashaiman in the Tema Municipality records the highest followed by Mamprobi and Adabraka in Accra.

On HIV trends at Tema in the last three years, Dr Cubagee said that in 1997 there were 130 HIV cases, 32 AIDS cases and 29 deaths. The following year, there were 83 HIV patients, 133 fully blown AIDS cases and 26 deaths. In 1999, the figures rose to 161 HIV cases, 157 AIDS patients and 31 deaths. The age group mainly affected was between 15 to 44 years, which had 106 males and 153 females. In the 45 to 59 years old age bracket, there were 29 males and 31 females while 60 years and above recorded five men and no female. Dr Ignacio Emmanuel Diaba of the Tema General Hospital, who spoke on living with HIV/AIDS patients said that there is no fear of infection in lying on the same bed with a patient but sex must be avoided or a condom, must be used for limited protection. He however cautioned against sharing items like toothbrush and shaving sticks.