Cameroon

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.”

Ten members from Westminster have just concluded a week in Cameroon — the church’s third mission trip to this West African nation. What they witnessed was heart-wrenching. Currently 16 million African children under the age of 15 live without their mother or both parents. By 2010, it is estimated that one-third of Africa’s children will be orphaned. In Cameroon specifically, approximately 11 percent of the population is infected with HIV. The impact on individuals, families and the very fabric of life in this country is devastating.

Yet in the midst of this horrific health crisis is the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon, fighting for education, prevention and treatment. And standing beside them, in a remarkable partnership, is Westminster Church. Working in collaboration, with the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster has pledged $250,000 to the Mission Initiative: Joining Hearts & Hands, a $40 million campaign by the Presbyterian Church (USA) to renew the church for mission.

Their gift will provide multiple-year funding for a new position, an AIDS mission worker, working with the Health Services of the Presbyterian Church in Cameroon. And in a little over a month that new public health care worker, Shirley Hill, will begin her ministry working with Mr. Nubed Godlove Tanyi, Secretary of Health Services for the church. [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.