1. 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: 77 11 01 55 e’mail: wanggidy@yahoo.com wanggidy@yahoo.com - Kuwong Toh Paul Dip. Comm.Dev. Tel: 77433365 e’mail: kuwongtoh@yahoo.com kuwongtoh@yahoo.com

2. 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

3. 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

4. You Are Here Vous etes ici Mutengene

5. 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

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

7. 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.

8. 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%

9. 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.

10. 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 7 12.3%  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.

11. 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%

12. 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.

13. 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%

14. 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.

15. 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

16. 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.

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