Focusing on prevention and control of the spreading epidemic of HIV/AIDS will be the theme for a conference to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, Nov. 10 to 13.

"There's an ignorance about AIDS, [an] ignorance about transmission. There are myths that are being propagated," says Dr. Peter Landless, associate health ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He says the conference is to destigmatize the myths about HIV/AIDS by bringing an understanding of the disease.

"[We want to give] a message to people living with AIDS. They are a welcome part of our church. It's how to make church members feel comfortable with those who have the disease and being able to coexist in a Christian loving way," Landless adds.

He explains that the church in Africa is working in a coordinated effort to reach out to those with HIV or AIDS. It's a responsibility of the church to promote behaviors that decrease risk of the disease, he says. But, "We need to have a ministry of healing, which takes care of the dying, which takes care of the families, which makes people comfortable."

He says there are countries in Africa that will soon reach a negative growth rate. "This is unheard of."

The complexity of the HIV/AIDS situation around the world includes intensified efforts to contain the scourge and prevent it from spreading. Availability and accessibility of medicines to assist in controlling the disease has been on the forefront of the global discussion of experts, politicians and the producers of medicines.

The recently brokered deal by former United States President Bill Clinton to supply drugs at less than one-third of the cost in several developing nations is bringing a brighter prospect to an otherwise grim situation. "Non-governmental organizations and faith-based groups can now play an active role in making these affordable drugs more accessible by training medical workers, upgrading health facilities and information systems needed for distribution and monitoring compliance with drug use," says Dr. Mike Negerie, regional technical manager for health for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency in Johannesburg, South Africa.

"With this development, one of the toughest obstacles in the fight against HIV/AIDS can be removed," Dr. Negerie adds. "The potential to make AIDS drugs available at the grassroots level will significantly improve in poor and developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where the disease has hit hard."

Landless says there's a crucial element that the church needs to understand and accept. "This [HIV/AIDS] is our problem. We would like to think, as we think about drugs and alcohol, that it's not our problem." He explains that with the growing number of people in Africa and other parts of the world living with HIV or AIDS, some are Adventist church members who need the support of the church. "I think there's been a strong aspect of denial in the church," he says.

ADRA and the Adventist Church in Africa are becoming heavily involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Objectives of the conference, organized by the East-Central Africa region of the church, held in cooperation with the Adventist Development and Relief Agency and The Policy Project/Nairobi, include reducing the fear and denial associated with HIV/AIDS and getting full participation of Adventist church leaders at multiple levels for establishing policies and programs that address HIV/AIDS in effected regions.

Dr. Negerie says there will be some challenges with logistics management, warehousing and delivery for HIV/AIDS drugs. "Nevertheless, they are not insurmountable and we are now better poised to make a difference in the battle against HIV/AIDS than ever before."

The church has an Office of HIV/AIDS Ministry in Johannesburg, South Africa, which focuses on care and vocational training for AIDS orphans and widows, treatment for those infected, and a widespread education and prevention effort in churches, schools and communities. [Editor: Wendi Rogers for ANN/APD]