Facts on AIDS

Even where voluntary HIV testing and counseling is available, many do not want to know their status. The disease carries with it shame for both the victim and family members. Denial and isolation become methods of coping, which means little support is available for the family. Pray the families of AIDS victims will not suffer isolation and abandonment.

In Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, current estimates show over 1 person in 5 between the ages of 15 and 49 is living with HIV or AIDS.

Pray for the future of these countries and other African countries and the effect AIDS will have on the economy and work force.

Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, 83% of the deaths have been in Africa.

At least 95% of all AIDS orphans have been African.

Pray the people of Africa would know that AIDS does kill and can not be treated with an injection from the clinic.

As infection rises in the general population, so does the likelihood of encountering an infected partner early in one's sexual career.

Pray for more opportunities for AIDS informational presentation in schools and churches.

Recently a group of us missionaries were talking and the subject of AIDS came up, which it always does. Someone remarked about what they had heard someone say. I was very disturbed by the statement which simply was, "I am tired of hearing you constantly talking about AIDS." Well, l am afraid we are tired and saddened by having to deal with the consequences of AIDS but it is here and it is a part of our lives. It is not all we talk about but we do talk about it. We can not help it. Let me share some "more" recent statistics with you concerning the development of the disease in Swaziland.

SENTENEL SURVEY: The results of the survey carried out last year have just been published and it makes disturbing reading. After the last survey (1998) Swaziland was second in the world for the percentage of the adult population estimated as being HIV+. The sample population was taken from a variety of medical facilities in both urban and rural areas across our country.
Tested were those attending for antenatal care (ANC), patients with sexually transmitted infections (STI) and those with tuberculosis (TB).

1992 3.9% (ANC) 11.1% (STI) ---- (TB)

2000 34.2% 50.2% 78.6%

Please continue to pray for this disease which is taking so many lives in Swaziland. Pray for a change in life styles and a total commitment to the Lord of all Swazis.

The Sunday Times (Jo'burg) headlines read "AIDS Wipes Out SA Teachers." A few points in the article:

-Teacher deaths due to HIV/AIDS have rocketed by more than 40% in the past year, according to the statistics compiled by the largest teacher trade union.

-The figures are based on claims made to the South Africa Democratic Teachers' Union funeral scheme between June 2000-May this year. They show that claims were made for 1,011 teachers with an average age of 39 who died in the 12 month period.

-Although most deaths in the recent study-published in the latest issue of the union 's newspaper, The Educators' Voice-were recorded as ‘natural' because doctors are legally prevented from listing AIDS as a cause of death, most of the teachers had died of opportunistic infections like tuberculosis, pneumonia, gastroenteritis, meningitis and cryptococcal meningitis, which are AIDS related.

-The teaching profession is in a crisis because teachers are dying young.

Pray that Africans will understand the seriousness of AIDS and what the disease is doing to their families. Pray this knowledge will lead them to change their behaviors and seek God's direction for their lives.

"On September 11, 2001, an unseen enemy attacked a people and no one even noticed! While some 5,000 were dying in the 'Attack on America,' some 6,000 were dying in sub-Saharan Africa falling to AIDS…and no one even notices. And it happens every single day!"