The Role of Faith-Based Orgs in Addressing HIV/AIDS

Questions about the role that religion and faith-based organizations (FBO) can play in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic have been few during this IAC.   The satellite session "The Global P.E.A.C.E. Coalition Model: Teaming Public, Private and Faith Sectors" chaired by Dr. Rick and Kay Warren of Saddleback Church sought to illustrate what they deemed to be a new model of collaboration to successfully address the HIV/AIDS epidemic.  This model asserts that NGOs and governments can not, and will not succeed without bringing in the faith sector.  

The guiding premise behind this model is that a majority of people globally belong to some sort of faith tradition, whose religious institutions and places of worship are more pervasive and accessible than health care institutions. In the Western Province of Rwanda, for example, while there are only 3 hospitals and 26 clinics serving 650,000 individuals, often at a great distance from their homes, there are 726 local churches for the same number of people. 

FBOs have a long history in providing HIV/AIDS related services, demonstrating remarkable expertise in areas such as care of orphans and hospice care.  The challenge, however, is whether that same moral framework which guides religious institutions to conduct outreach and serve the "least among us", might also impede the ability to deliver the full range of information and services that evidence has shown to be necessary in addressing the epidemic.  Comprehensive HIV prevention necessitates addressing a range of issues regarding sexuality which some deem contradictory to their religious beliefs. Geographic accessibility, therefore, should not mean that FBOs are the primary choice for delivery of all HIV services.  Donors and policy makers must select implementing organizations based on their ability to sound, evidence-based public health programs, and not simply because they are in the neighborhood.