CAMEROON BAPTIST CONVENTION HEALTH BOARD & BIBLE SOCIETY OF CAMEROON HISTORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN APPROACH IN THE CARE OF HIV/AIDS INFECTED /AFFECTED PERSONS. Presented by: - FORGWEI Gideon W. Anthropologist Tel: e’mail: - Kuwong Toh Paul Dip. Comm.Dev. Tel: e’mail:

Background  2005 – Introduction of Good Samaritan Program  25 CBC HB Leaders trained.  Action plans elaborated for the implementation  CBC HB has an integrated AIDS Care and Prevention Program. Some of the components of this program dealing with the infected and affected are  Community AIDS Education – (Implemented the GS Program at community/church level)  PMTCT  Chosen Children Program  Support Group of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (adults)  Support Group for Children Living with HIV/AIDS

Replication of program in the CBC settings  CBC HB ACP incorporated the Good Samaritan Approach to offer a holistic and compassionate care to the infected and affected in our communities and churches.  In 2007, CBC Field pastors and Field Leaders in four regions of Cameroon. -Coastal Region - 31 participants from 5 fields -Northern Region - 37 participants from 12 fields -Central Region - 24 participants from 6 fields -ADNOFAN Region - 31 participants from 3 fields

You Are Here Vous etes ici Mutengene

Trainings at field level The Field Leaders were then encouraged to share the knowledge acquired from this training in their respective fields. -Oku Field Women’s Union (4) – 450 women -Noni Field – 48 church leaders -Ndu Field – 48 church leaders -Bamenda Field Women’s Union – 60 women -Magba Baptist Church – 76 church leaders -Limbe Field (2) – 40 church leaders

Partnership with the EELC  2007 Ngaoundere 4 trainings  400 church leaders from all the regions of the EELC trained for one week each

Impact Assessment Impact Assessment - Noni -Oku -Limbe Fields  During these follow-up trainings, questionnaire administered  Data collected and analyzed to assess impact of the Good Samaritan Program.

Findings What has been most useful to you personally?  Change personal behaviour 74.6%  Help people in need without judgment 66.7%  Change behaviour towards PLWHA 53.7%  Help people in need without discrimination 46.0%  Stigma and discrimination has reduced 39.4%  Not useful at all 00 % What has been useful for your service, church or family?  Open talk about HIV 68.8%3  Education and sensitization in churches 43.8%  Organization /family has implemented a program for PLWHA 22.8%

Have you got more knowledge - 72 (100%)  87.3% had more know on HIV prevention.  80.3% had more knowledge on HIV transmission and  81.7% declared to have had more knowledge on how to care for the infected/affected.  79.2% said they have knowledge on how to live with HIV/AIDS.  78.9% said they have a better understanding on the role of the church in the fight against HIV/AIDS.  In the same line, 78.9% gained more knowledge on false beliefs surrounding HIV.

Did you have any misconception about HIV/AIDS?  HIV/AIDS is a curse/sin 62.5%  Could not share the same home or vehicle with PLWHA 19.0%  Mosquitoes could transmit HIV %  Not comfortable with PLWHA 11.7%  Sex without condoms 5.5% Note! After the training  94.4% of the interviewed participants said they will share an apartment with a PLWHA since HIV is not transmitted by casual contacts.

What could you do if after testing for HIV you test negative and your spouse test HIV positive?  Advice him/her to eat well 91.2%  Advice him/her to seek help from the doctor 90.3%  I will pray for him/her 88.5%  I will advice him/her to go for RV treatment 86.4%  I will advice her to avoid pregnancy 81.8%  I will continue to have sex with him/her 78.2%  I will continue to love and assist him/her 75.8%  I will use condom during sex with him/her 75.4%

Will you accept a leader who is HIV positive?  90.4% of the participants said they will accept a leader who was living with HIV and AIDS. Will your congregation accept a leader who is HIV positive?  90.1% were in favour of this idea.  Only 9,9 said they will not accommodate a PLWHA as their leader.

Where do you see the greatest challenge in your actual HIV/AIDS work?  Low education 83.3%  Stigma and discrimination 50.9%  Ignorance and denial 37.3%  Christian beliefs 24.4%  Negative cultural practices 17.9%  Gender barriers 11.3%  Condom use 11.1%  Inadequate finances 6.1%  Difficult terrain 2.0%

Can you give suggestions to improve the Good Samaritan Program?  62.9% of 73 participants recommended Regular, quarterly or Annual trainings  57.1% advocated more days allocated for each session.  68.3% requested more IEC materials  81.7% supported that more church/community leaders be trained.  25% of the 73 participants interviewed advocated that PLWHA be involved in the Good Samaritan Program.  23.6% recommended that HIV testing (VCT) as an integral part of the Good Samaritan Program.  Participants who test HIV positive should be assisted to access care and ARV treatment.

WAY FORWARD  Organize training for student pastors in CBTS- Ndu & CBS Kumba  Continue with follow-up trainings in the other 3 CBC Regions  Continue to collect data for impact analysis  Disseminate publish findings  Assist Field/churches in practical implementation  Funding for Good Samaritan Program in the CBC  Maintain collaboration with Bible Society of Cam.  PRAY FOR AN HIV/AIDS CURE

VOTE OF THANKS  We enjoyed working with team from Yaounde – Elizabeth, Beatrice, Payelle etc.  Thank you for the Live Changing Booklet “Where is the Good Samaritan Today?” and other IEC materials.  We appreciate the partnership with the Bible Society of Cameroon.  We thank the CBC authorities for permitting this innovative approach to care for the needy to be implemented within the church.

For your kind attention, Thank you!!! Merci!!!