Church’s Role in Prevention, Care and Management of HIV and AIDS in Western Kenya: Case of Vihiga and Busia Districts
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Date
2005-11-24
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and its Diaspora
Abstract
The mandate of this essay is two-fold. First, it pays attention to the role of the Church in
the care of persons living with HIV and AIDS and the affected. Secondly, it examines
the efforts of the Church in prevention and management of HIV and AIDS in Western
Kenya. The strategies used by the Church in achieving these two facets therefore forms
the basis of the discussion. The viability of these approaches has been discoursed
analytically as a basis for providing suggestions that might inform the church leaders and
members to rethink the strategies relevant in responding to HIV and AIDS. The
discussions are framed under the concept of holistic care and development for humanity.
Primary data is sourced from two purposively sampled districts: Vihiga and Busia in
Western Kenya. 52 randomly sampled churches provide the sample size from which
examples were drawn. As a way forward, given the numerous challenges that the
churches face while responding to HIV within communities, we advocate for an
integrated approach where churches can borrow strategies that work best from their
counterparts.