Hope for African AIDS Victims

I learned today about an impressive ministry to HIV-positive Christians in Kenya. It was founded by Trevor and Regina. Many members of Regina's family are part of our congregation. She and her family were here last weekend to gather with other family members. I learned about this ministry from Regina's mother, with whom I was visiting after church today.

Regina is HIV-positive, thanks to her first husband having contracted it through tainted blood, which he was given in a transfusion because of hemophilia. She has benefited from drugs that keep full-blown AIDS from developing, and understandably has a big heart for the many people who do not have access to such drugs. Regina and Trevor spent a lot of time looking, and finally found a pharmaceutical company willing to provide the drugs for $750.00 per patient, per year. Even that reduced cost is far out of reach for most Kenyan AIDS sufferers. People who get the drugs through regular channels pay $1200 per month.

Thirty-five people in Kenya are on this program. All the people on the program are members of one of the Anabaptist churches in the country. They narrow the potential recipients to this pool of candidates for two reasons: the drugs are unlikely to be effective long-term if promiscuous behavior continues, and people who want to benefit must be responsible about taking the drugs as prescribed. They expect that the people most likely to meet this criteria are people who are part of a disciplined Christian brotherhood. Children who grow up in intact Christian families--with infected parents spared by the drugs, in turn, are far more likely to be well-provided for, with nourishment and good training. It offers hope that the cycle of poverty and illness can be interrupted, with long-term culture-changing potential.

I have not seen a loved one suffering from AIDS, and hope never to have to witness this. Regina has, and I'm blessed to see how the experience has prompted her to reach out to others in the same situation. Her husband's compassion and business expertise are an essential part of this worthwhile ministry also.

I would be glad to help anyone interested in contributing to this ministry make connections with Trevor and Regina. It's one of the most hopeful things I've ever heard regarding American Christians impacting AIDS victims in Africa.