Cameroon

Cameroon partner church combats HIV/AIDS

Shirley Hill (center) with a village leader and the nurse in charge at the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) health facility in the village of Weh.

One in 20 persons in Cameroon is living with HIV. In some areas, that number more than triples among women between the ages of 25 and 29. In Cameroon, women of childbearing years have the highest risk for HIV/AIDS. The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon is trying to reduce the prevalence rate of HIV through many programs and services. For example, through their health facilities, the church runs a program to prevent transmission of HIV from pregnant women to their infants. In congregations, pastors include messages about HIV/AIDS in sermons every month. If the church can successfully deliver messages of health promotion and disease prevention and compassionate quality health care, it can literally save lives and have a positive impact on the health of hundreds of thousands of people. Read more.

Consultation on HIV/AIDS brings together partners

Consultation attendees come together. Photo by Shirley Hill

The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon hosted a consultation on HIV/AIDS September 15–18, 2008, at the PCC Church Centre in Kumba. The consultation brought together partners and stakeholders of the PCC to develop a long range strategic plan that would help the church identify its response to HIV/AIDS.

The consultation was sponsored by the PC(USA) and facilitated by Mr. Emery Mpwate, the HIV/AIDS Advisor for Mission 21. This is the first time that two PCC partners, PC(USA) and Mission 21 have worked together with the PCC on a project. Those in attendance included the Rev. Festus Asana, Synod Clerk for the PCC, the Rev. Achowah Umenei, the Communication’s Secretary and Mr. Nubed Godlove Tanyi, the Health Services Secretary of the PCC. The PC(USA) was represented by Mission co-workers Mr. Jeff Boyd, Regional Liaison for Central Africa, the Rev. Shirley Hill, HIV/AIDS and Primary Health Consultant for the PCC, and long-term volunteer Megan Cochran.

HIV Competent Church in the Cameroon

The Presbyterian Church in Cameroon (PCC) is very involved creating "AIDS-Friendly Congregations" and an "HIV-Competent Church.”  In 2007 the PCC developed a three-day workshop to train pastors in pastoral care and counseling of persons living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Pastors also preach sermons with HIV/AIDS related themes and conduct healing/prayer services, bible studies and retreats. The denominational leaders for women's, men's and youth work include a lesson on HIV/AIDS in their yearly Bible Study material. The PCC is currently working to establish HIV/AIDS control committees in all 23 presbyteries and 1,362 congregations in the denomination. The committees will plan, implement, monitor and report on HIV/AIDS activities within their congregation/presbytery. 

The PCC seminary teaches a mandatory semester course on HIV/AIDS for all seminary students and sponsors an HIV/AIDS awareness club for the students. The students publish a magazine, in which they can express theological and biblical perspectives on HIV/AIDS.

New AIDS worker will bring hope to Cameroonians

“She is living with death,” one of the members of the medical mission team from Westminster Presbyterian Church in Minneapolis observed after visiting the home of a woman caring for three members of her family with AIDS. “You just can’t imagine the severity of the crisis until you witness it first hand.” [Read more.]

Presbyterian Church of Cameroon (PCC) Program: AIDS Behavior Change

PCC AIDS Education and Action Program update — June 2006

• Conducted a one-year training of all pastors throughout the 21 presbyteries of the PCC
• Followed up with a one-year program of presbytery leaders, including association leaders in each of the presbyteries.
• Each presbytery conducted a follow-up training with local congregations.
• Each congregation has its own AIDS team that focuses its response on the local level. The head office AIDS coordinator draws on the presbyteries and congregations.
• Conducted AIDS training in each of the hospitals and clinics.
• Formed AIDS clubs in each of the PCC Secondary level boarding schools. Clubs form drama teams, hold singing competitions and have dialogue with their peers on HIV/AIDS.
• Starting to form AIDS clubs in certain primary schools doing drama, recitations and group interaction.  These teams visit schools throughout the local community.