On New Year's Day 2001, the General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) launched a short-wave radio program to break the silence that surrounds HIV/AIDS. Radio is perhaps the most accessible means to share life-saving information with the people of sub-Saharan Africa.
Over 50 percent of the radio stations in Africa carry no programming about HIV/AIDS. Many programmers are subject to the whims of their government or of profit-driven station owners. In addition, it is dangerous to produce programs in war-torn settings. Therefore, the decision was made to produce the program in New York at GBGM, where those with AIDS expertise and members of the African diaspora are readily available to create the program. Over time, we hope to have correspondents from throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
"Radio Africa International" is heard every day, two hours in English and two hours in French. The program targets youth and young adults with news, interviews, spiritual messages, and music. They hear faith stories and news concerning the African continent, interviews with prominent Africans, and popular music from around the world. On Sundays, they hear sermons and uplifting spiritual music. Underlying all the programs is a commitment to broadcast information about HIV/AIDS and other health issues.
The radio program can give voice to an issue where too much fear, mythology, and silence has overshadowed the truth. We cannot allow another generation of girls to be raped and infected with HIV because men in some African countries believe that they will be cured of AIDS if they have sex with a virgin. We must support the children who are caring for sick parents or who are orphaned and caring for their younger siblings. And we must support our African bishops, pastors, and lay leaders who spend much of their time now conducting funerals. Conditions can be created in which the phrase "people living with AIDS" can be as common in Africa as it is in the United States. And, yes, we must talk about condoms and other "taboo" subjects in order to save lives. We must find ways to share information, even when it challenges the context of African cultures and our own theological perspectives.
We must do as Jesus commissioned the disciples to do (Mark 16:14-18) for all who are sick and for those who care for them.
Text and photographs copyright 2001 by New World Outlook: The Mission Magazine of The United Methodist Church. Used by Permission. Visit New World Outlook Online at http://gbgm-umc.org/nwo/.
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