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Foreword
The human personality is a trinity in unity of
spirit, soul and body. Holistic health care assesses the
contributions of the human spirit, the soul and the body
respectively, to the breakdown of health. It mobilizes all available
resources in the three areas, to bring about a complete cure and
full restoration of health and wholeness to the individual.
Today, the HIV/AIDS pandemic threatens to reverse the hard won
progress in human development especially in developing countries
around the world. The problem and challenges of HIV/AIDS in the
health and socio-economic status of Nigeria is a national one.
In the early years of AIDS, most people thought that it was someone
else’s problem, if they though it was a problem at all. Certainly
church leaders did not think that they needed to struggle with the
problem. Some thought that AIDS was God’s punishment upon sinners.
Today most people in the church, including the leaders, know that
AIDS is real.
AIDS cases are becoming more visible in our communities, with many
people carrying the virus. The church and its leadership seem to be
caught in the centre of the AIDS storm. The church counsels the
infected and the affected, cares for the dying and the orphaned, and
comforts the bereaved in addition to burying the dead. HIV
infections and deaths are set to go on increasing, according to
official projections. The church has therefore, responded to this
crisis by setting up AIDS organizations, becoming involved in AIDS
prevention and AIDS education, and by offering compassionate health
care to people living with HIV/AIDS.
In order to give a clearer direction to all the church leaders and
programme implementers and equip them for effective programme
management and coordination of all HIV/AIDS activities within the
church, a conscious effort was made to develop the church’s HIV/AIDS
policy and strategic plan. This policy and strategic plan,
therefore, forms the basis on which all our HIV/AIDS programmes take
their roots. The church’s message is the only message of real hope
in this crisis. I, therefore, wish to call and appeal to all QIC/UEC
leaders and members to see this document as a tool to harmonize and
strengthen our efforts in an organized manner in our fight against
HIV/AIDS across the church, health institutions and Theological
colleges.
I am confident that with much dedication, and all hands on deck, in
collaboration with our partners, we will overcome one day. We are
awake and active in our responsibility to realize our dream of a
society free from HIV/AIDS.
Rev. Dr. N.S. Issah
Chairman, United Evangelical Church/Qua Iboe Church National
Conference
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Photo Credits: Billy
Abwa
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© 2006,
STILL WATERS
QIC/UEC National Centre, Plot 46 Cadastral Zone B5, Utako, P.O.Box 15156, Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria |
