[WSIS CS-Plenary] TICs en la Prevencion del VIH / SIDA e ITS , Lima - Perú

[malik khan]

*RELIGIOUS AND MORAL DIMENSIONS OF HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC*

* *

*Presented by Dr. Malik S. Khan  Sec-Gen*

We are very thankful to be invited today to speak to this beautiful
audience.  We offer our humble appreciation to Allah for providing me this
opportunity to present this paper on "Religious and Moral Dimensions of
HIV/AIDS Epidemic."

Indeed the epidemic is a new calamity befalling the human population.
Naturally,
it is not present in all individuals, and those diagnosed with HIV who
receive prompt treatment may never develop full-blown AIDS.  The proportion
of those infected whose condition progresses from HIV to AIDS has therefore
varied widely from community to community.  After remaining dormant for
months or years, the virus goes into the bloodstream and depletes the body's
nutriments, hormones, and ability to resist diseases.  Once AIDS has been
diagnosed, with the depleted immune system susceptible to a variety of
infectious agents, the condition is generally fatal, the patient dying of
infectious agents or excessive weight loss due to reduced ability to extract
the nutrition from food.

The scare stories regarding transmission that abounded when AIDS was new on
the world scene have been disproved, so that most people are now aware that
AIDS is not spread by casual contact such as sneezing, hugging, or toilet
seats.  The danger of transmission of the affliction from the affected
individuals to the unaffected ones comes through interjection of bodily
fluid, chiefly semen or blood.  Accordingly, one of the major methods of
transmission is sexual contact.  Unprotected sex and sex with multiple
partners greatly increases the risk of contracting the disease and further
spreading it.  The innocent victim is the partner, who committed no sin, but
suffers because the other has brought it home.  The main risk groups in this
category are homosexual or bisexual men and heterosexual contacts of
infected persons, as well as children of tainted women.  The other debased
means is the transfusion of blood.  Though blood for transfusions is now
routinely screened for HIV, contaminated blood passes the infection to the
recipient in the high-risk group of drug addicts who share needles.

Some of the common symptoms of AIDS are:  depression, blisters, skin
problems, dry cough, lymph node swelling, cold sweats in the night,
diarrhea, and unusual infections.  The symptom most directly responsible for
death by AIDS is weight loss, which may be as severe as 10kg in a week.  When
the human body has wasted to 55% of its normal weight for whatever reason,
the body dies.

The AIDS victims suffer not only for the disease; they also suffer socially
and become the untouchables in the communities.  Nobody wants to live with
them or wants them to live in their neighborhood.  The family members of
those who are diagnosed with AIDS or who have died from it are discriminated
against, and this stigma makes people suffer all the more.  This,
paradoxically, contributes to the spread of AIDS by encouraging a mentality
where a person would potentially endanger the life of a new or second sexual
partner rather than undergo HIV testing with its perceived risk of losing
one's job or being outcast by one's family and community upon testing
positive.

By far, the permissive, perverted, and promiscuous societies are the
breeding grounds of these vices.  Sensualism, alcoholism, intoxication,
gambling, drug abuse, homosexuality, promiscuity, prostitution, sodomy, and
provocative or unnatural indulgences directly or indirectly lead to the
HIV/AIDS track.  Moreover, as any addition affects the body, brain, and
social relations, impairing the subject's biological, intellectual,
psychological, and social defenses, these impulses are carried over to his
offspring, thereby further intensifying the dangers of the epidemic.

Yet some people eagerly advocate legalization of those virulences, either in
the name of freedom or in the guise of socialization, often attracting the
children or youth to them.  Once on such a collision course, disaster is
eventually the outcome, with no point of return.

Then to ignite these tendencies yonder, the media and business play equally
destructive roles.  Alluring and exciting imagery has become the
*leitmotif*of communication and advertising.
To begin with, there are presently 400,000 sex websites, visited by sixty
million viewers daily.  In broadcasting events or introducing products,
intoxicants (tobacco, alcohol), pleasure (pulsating music, throbbing dance),
and voluptuosity (premature indulgences, premarital sex) are projected as
manly and macho manifestations.  Promoted as good-time experiences and
considered as attributes of a free society, appearing as glamorous and
sociable, they are taken as harmless fun and zestful amusement.  Thus, in
the absence of prohibition or social disapproval, it is common for people to
become enslaved to lower desires and become alcoholics, compulsive gamblers,
adulterers, drug addicts or abusers of other substances.  Indeed, it is a
shameful illusion.

Today throughout the modern world how easily available to minors tobacco,
alcohol, and drug paraphernalia are!  People who give over their minds to
alcohol and mind-altering drugs can easily become victims of AIDS.

This presents a horrifying specter of capricious behavior toward life and in
particular toward sexual attitudes.  A grave situation prevails especially
in Sub-Saharan and West Africa, where more than 75 percent of youth are
sexually active.  In the United States, many youth have had several sexual
partners before even graduating from high school. The shocking news also
tells us that new strains of diseases are not combatable by antibiotics.

As a result, the number of people afflicted with HIV continues to rise in
all parts of the world.  In 2007, according to statistics published by
UNAIDS and WHO, 33.2 million affectees were living with the virus, which
included 30.8 million adults, of whom 15.4 million were women, and 2.5
million children.  In sub-Saharan Africa, 6.2% of all adults aged 15-49 are
infected with HIV.  In China, though the overall incidence is only one-tenth
of one percent, certain communities have a prevalence of up to 60%  Over
1,600,000 people are languishing with HIV in Latin American.  32,000 people
are dying every day, and 16,000 new cases arise every day.  This is more or
less close and reasonable statistics.

There is a wide diversity in prevalence of affliction among regions and
countries.  In Botswana, the worst affected country in the world, the
ascendancy is 24.1 percent of the adult populace.  The next highest
concentration is in the Caribbean, where 230,000 people are estimated to be
living with HIV or AIDS.  Steep increases have also been observed in some
Asian and East European nations.  In the more developed regions, the
regnancy is lower, with 2006 percentages of .0013% in Australia, .0014% in
UK, .0010 in Canada, and .0139 in the United States.

The number of deaths caused by AIDS has mounted steadily over the years.  More
than 25 million people have expired since the disease was first diagnosed in
1981.  There were about 2.43 million deaths due to AIDS in 2007, including
more than 2 million in Africa,  58,000 in Latin America, 11,000 in the
Caribbean, and roughly 163,000 in Europe.  However, all of these figures
suffer from underreporting due to wrong methodology used by taking a random
sample and generalizing over the entire country.

The number of children orphaned by the disease is estimated at 15 million,
Africa being the most affected continent, 12 million souls having lost one
or both parents.  There are an additional 3 million orphans in other parts
of the globe.  On the whole, it is predicted that by the year 2010, the
volume of AIDS orphans could swell to more than 18 million.  Most of them
grow up in poverty, faced with increased risk of violence and exposed to
bitter exploitation and abuse.

Response to this crisis has equally been widespread, on both the national
and international level, and for both prevention and cure.  Nationally,
governmental initiatives have been characterized by comprehensive policies
and programs in many countries.  Forthright national leadership, combined
with public awareness and intensive prevention efforts, has resulted in some
notable successes.  Concern over HIV/AIDS has ranked high on the population
policy agenda of most countries.  Governments are pursuing multi-pronged
strategies to combat the problem, in partnership with and succor of civil
society, focusing on:

1.      legislation (non-discrimination, non-stigmatization)

2.      policy (aggressive promotion)

3.      execution (effective implementation)

4.      education (public awareness, information, publicity)

5.      communication (public relations, confidence-building, assistance)

6.      prevention (counseling, testing, condom use, blood screening,
modification of sexual behavior); and

7.      treatment (antiretroviral facilities). and

8.      institutionalization (networking, support groups, coordinating
linkages, organizational provisions).  Religious institutions and education,
inculcating fear of sin and Hellfire, remain the best tool for the
prevention of the most common behaviors that spread HIV/AIDS.

While these exertions have frequently been fragmented and narrow, they have,
over time, been strengthened, promising better services in the coming days.
In particular, whereas antiretroviral remedy has significantly prolonged
life by thwarting the development of HIV into full-blown AIDS, access
thereto has remained low owing chiefly to high costs.

Internationally, too, the epidemic has prompted an unprecedented array of
global, regional, national, and local responses.  Beginning in 1994, the
Economic and Social Council has, *inter alia*, established the Joint United
Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to launch and support a coordinated
action from the United Nations system as a whole.  The urgency of  concerted
schemata was publicized by the United Nations Millennium Declaration (2000),
which noted the resolve of the Members to halt and reverse the spread of the
epidemic by the year 2015.  This was reiterated in the Declaration of
Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted by the General Assembly (2001), which
acknowledged the preventive measures as the mainstays to meet the challenges
posed.  Additional resources were being brought to bear by the Global Fund
to Fight AIDS, among other things, created by the General Assembly
(2002).  Further,
in view of the devastating toll of the epidemic in Africa, the UN Secretary
General established the Commission on HIV/AIDS and Governance in Africa
(2003) to make recommendations for eradicating the menace.  Most recently,
the High-level Meeting to review the achievement of the goals set out in the
Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS (2005) afforded an opportunity for the
international community to take stock of its efforts to counter the disease.
The Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs,
along with its other allied activities, monitors trends and policies related
to HIV/AIDS and provides throughout the world up-to-date, accurate and
scientifically objective information thereon.  Also, as a constant reminder,
May 16th has been recognized as the International Day of HIV/AIDS.  This
helps promote the cause of alleviating the suffering.

However, while there have been many examples of success and progress, they
have essentially represented stop-gap solutions.  Indeed, the global
response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic having fallen short of what is required,
the dilemma of adequately tackling the problem still remains.  On the
contrary, certain artificial means assumed in desperation (e.g.
indiscriminate use of condoms) and in spite of their apparent benefits
(e.g., avoidance of chance pregnancy) have had long-term detrimental
consequences by encouragement of irresponsible behavior and degenerating the
society (e.g., prevalence of adultery, which has its own ill effects).
 Eventually,
such practices increase rather than decrease the spread of the epidemic.

The reason has been the fundamental deficiency of the theories and policies
adopted which, dwelling heavily on secular ingredients, lack the necessary
spiritual contents that are the essence of straight society. As all
religions place prohibition on harmful conduct, it is religion and moral
factors that motivate individuals to follow a righteous course away from
vices, avoiding personal or social injury to anybody, including themselves.
Consequently, despite all efforts otherwise, ignorance and rejection of the
Divine Message will lead to perpetual damnation.  All the revealed religions
(e.g., Judaism, Christianity, Islam) lay down clearly in their respective
scriptures (the Torah, Bible, Qur'an) the paths of pious life and graceful
existence, providing guidance and showing signs, so aw to ensure rewards
here and hereafter.  Simultaneously, they enjoin to stay away from
dereliction and not to go astray, warning against the chastisement that lies
ahead for sinful and disobedient conduct.  Keeping with human dignity, they
prescribe commendable deeds (e.g. truth-telling, honesty, compassion,
tolerance, respect, kindness, cleanliness, piety, sobriety) and enjoin to
abhor detestable misdeeds (e.g., lying, theft, killing, intoxication,
adultery, gambling, fornication, homosexuality, slavery).  Moreover, abuse
of human body, misuse of wealth, wastage of resources, and worship of the
unworthy are forbidden.  Islam has on its part laid a great stress on pious
bearing.  Making the Divine Dictates as the bases of creation, sustenance,
and existence, it has ordained an upright pathway.  Walking on it promises
all the bounties of health, prosperity, and happiness, while deviation
therefrom eventuates to disease, misery, and sorrow.  As such, it has
allowed only lawful living, eating, drinking, and behaving.  At the same
time it has prohibited leading a flagitious life, consumption of harmful
substances, and displaying of culpable demeanor, which paralyze body, mind,
and spirit.  In short, only in Godly way the beneficial and beautiful
activities are sanctioned, while abusive and destructive indulgences are
estopped.  Indeed, where and when Islamic ideology prevailed the society
trod on a healthy and happy trail free from thorny and painful gait.

Surely, were humans following the righteous course so explicitly provided by
the Almighty through His apostles and avoiding the evils urges in their
lives, they should have not fallen into such a calamitous pit as
HIV/AIDS.  While
its scourge is still raging, being in a blind alley, they are behaving as
helpless spectators.

Recourse for them, therefore, is to offer their sincere repentance on past
fallacies, straighten their crooked ways, and assume the Divinely prescribed
style of life.  For this, they ought to follow the Holy Injunctions as
revealed through God's messengers.  Humanity will be salvaged from the
abysmal depths into which it has descended only through subservience and
obedience to the decrees of the Almighty (Who alone is the Creator and
Sustainer of all that exists, in the Owner and provider of everything, is
All-Knowing and All-Powerful, and Who alone is worthy of praise and
worship).  Those who seek Him will find Him with His Grace and Guidance to
establish lasting peace, bliss, and abundance.

Now, this is the duty of the utmost urgency falling upon all the
religionists and specially the adherents of the three Abrahamic faiths (viz.
Jews, Christians, Muslims) to commit themselves to work together as a team
in finding answers to prevent, cure, eradicate, and safeguard against the
epidemic.  For this to achieve desirable results, systematic and sustained
efforts shall be necessary.  Faith-based groups, toiling in unison in a
coordinated fashion, will be able to bring about a spruce environment.  In
such a regimen, religio-moral values will prevail in the lives of the
people, controlling, *inter alia*, their physicao-material necessities.
While love of God and loyalty to His commandments shall promote this
balance, His fear and wrath will guard them agaist their bungling into
lustful traps.  With spiritual elements as adduced, the society will be both
celestially hale and corporeally hardy, self-regulating when the equilibrium
is tilted.  So revitalized and invigorated, neither evil onslaughts will
destroy its élan nor malignant threats shall ruin its substance, while
projecting itself as a sound enterprise.

In this connection, three coordinated programs with different foci shall be
simultaneously launched. The first, short-term, will emphasize on the care
and treatment (including spiritual treatment) of those already infected by
HIV/AIDS.  Appropriate legislation and policies with adequate means of their
implementation shall be advanced to provide the victims socio-emotional
relief.  Further, in the same vein, support and comfort groups will be
established in each affected community.  Possibilities of antiretroviral
facilities shall likewise be expanded as much as possible.  Research and
trial of other medicines for the alleviation and cure of the disease shall
equally be encouraged in the same spirit.

The second, medium-term, program will initiate a concerted preventive
campaign.  Through education, publicity, and information, the public shall
be made aware of the horrors of the epidemic and urged to follow the
physico-morally sanctioned conduct (i.e., respect for human body,
consumption of clean foods, indulgence in licit sexual relationship only)
and avoidance of profane activities (e.g., drug abuse, gambling,
fornication, prostitution, adultery).  For these purposes, provisions or
necessary public relations, information, publicity, literature, discussion,
and counseling shall be stressed.  Facilities for safe medical practices
(e.g., blood scanning, sterile equipment) shall be broadly
disseminated.  Similarly,
adherence to cautious sexual contacts (e.g., medication, condom use) shall
be urged, particularly in lawful sexual relationships as necessary.

The third, long-term, program shall focus on the reform of the social
environment on spiritual grounds.  Interfaith congregations from all
communities and creeds will join hands in a meaningful way and cooperative
order, sharing their concern and resources, to cleanse the society of vices
that have led and have the potential of leading to HIV/AIDS along with
others.  Through their mutuality and sincerity, a vigorous social movement
would be mounted, which could bring solace and salvation to the aching
earth.  The evils underlying the epidemic thus fought out, giving birth to
an upright community, this will ensure prevalence of a really peaceful and
prosperous destiny for mankind.

Then and only then, humanity may consider itself safe from the plight of
HIV/AIDS and safeguarded against future outbreaks.

-----------

            We are honored to have been chosen to present this paper with a
view of all the religions.  We offer our appreciation and thanks to the
Conference organizers and helpers.  We pray to the Almighty to further
strengthen our relationship as brothers and sisters.  We thank you.  Ameen.

2008/5/19 Lady Murrugarra <ladymurrugarra at yahoo.es>:

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