Kobia speaks at AIDS event in Bern - Medicines for Africa
1 December, Bern, Switzerland

25,000 petitions calling on the Swiss government, pharmaceutical industry and churches to make a far greater effort to ensure African populations access to anti-retroviral treatments are being presented to government, business and church representatives at 18:00 on 1 December 2005 in Bern.

With the slogan "Africa needs medicines. Now!", events outside the Swiss parliament building will include the lighting of 8000 candles laid out in the shape of Africa, a public interview with World Council of Churches general secretary Samuel Kobia; and presentation of the petitions. Representing the Swiss Protestant and Catholic churches, Rev. Thomas Wipf and Bishop Amédé Grab will explain the positions of their respective churches on this issue. The petition campaign was jointly organized by the Bethlehem Mission Immensee and Swiss Interchurch Aid (EPER).

See the text of the interview with Kobia, below:

Question 1: Has HIV-AIDS brought any change into your life?
Yes, profoundly. Some of my close relatives have succumbed to the disease; within a short span of two years, I have lost a brother, two nieces, a nephew, a sister and brother-in-law, and four cousins. However this epidemic goes way beyond any personal tragedy. It has made my consciousness more sensitive to the vulnerabilities and strengths of societies. From my experience as one so affected by HIV and AIDS, I have learned to see everyone infected as a brother, a sister, a niece, a nephew - a close relative. I relate to them more personally.

An equally important part of this realization is that this disease has also revealed the great resilience and tenacity of suffering people. I see hope, love, sharing and selflessness that teach me a great deal. The combination of seeing the suffering and the strengths of people has led me to believe that the bottom line in dealing with this epidemic is not my level of capacity or incapacity - but rather to work with passion, holding hands with others to meet the unmet needs of communities. The people who are living with or are affected by HIV & AIDS and the communities which are vulnerable to the disease are not and should not be perceived as passive recipients of handouts and help - they are vibrant resource persons and co-workers with us in this struggle to overcome not only this epidemic, but also to overcome the fundamental flaws in our societies which make us all vulnerable to HIV & AIDS. This realization has motivated me to speak up and act on the issue, personally and in my official capacity.

Question 2: HEKS-EPER and BMI ask the churches to:
Accept prevention methods to avoid HIV transmission
Promote a dialogue open to questions related to AIDS and sexuality
Promote a holistic approach of patients’ care and commit themselves against exclusion and discrimination.
How could you as the General Secretary of the WCC answer these challenges for the churches?

First and foremost, I encourage churches and communities to correct the flawed theology and practices that equate sin with disease – put morality over compassion and judgment over love, while emphasizing the individual responsibility to own healing and salvation.

I fully support the call to accept prevention methods to avoid HIV transmission. Any preventive method, which is scientifically proven to be effective, has to be promoted. To work against this would be unethical. But we have to be strategic in dealing with the issue. Distributing condoms in churches may not be the best approach. We have to discuss these issues and get recognition from our communities that prevention of infection is a practical step forward and life-affirming – whether it be safe sex practices or using clean needles by IV drug users.

Equally, I support the promotion of dialogue open to questions related to AIDS and sexuality. One of the greatest difficulties for churches in dealing with the issue of HIV & AIDS has been our inability to address sexuality in a frank and forthright manner. There has been a lack of language, a lack of imagination and a lack of opportunity to discuss these fundamental issues. There has also been a ‘flawed’ theology with an emphasis on guilt and a false sense of modesty. Sexuality is a sacred gift from God. A gift to be cherished and to enrich our lives. It is for us to experience it in a responsible and empowering manner. We see HIV & AIDS providing an important opportunity to open up this topic and to empower churches to deal with HIV & AIDS in a holistic manner. The WCC has processes in place since the last WCC Assembly (Harare, 1998) that have helped us carry the issue of human sexuality forward.

With regard to a holistic approach of patients’ care, it is a fact that globally churches and faith-based organizations and communities care for the majority of the persons living with HIV & AIDS, be it in home-based care at the community level, or dispensing drugs at dispensaries and church-run hospitals. We have to deal with the issue in a holistic manner - the theology taught in the seminary, the sermon from the pulpit, the service the churches and hospitals provide and the way the congregation deals with people living with HIV & AIDS. All these need to reflect the all-embracing and the boundless love of God. The fruit tree is judged by its fruits, the churches by their action. We cannot have two faces.

Question 3. What type of actions does WCC undertake?
In our endeavour to accompany and equip our member churches to act effectively in dealing with HIV & AIDS, the WCC has a four-pronged approach:

Development of policies where there is none. In 1997 WCC published the Facing AIDS study document – which was developed in an inclusive and participatory manner. This study addresses a substantial breadth of topics and has formed the backbone of the promotion of positive policies for churches to deal with the issue. More recently we have worked with other civil society organizations in developing and promoting the NGO Code of good practices in dealing with HIV & AIDS, formulated a work place policy for churches and related organizations, and provided guidelines for churches and related organizations to deal with, and relate to People Living with HIV & AIDS networks.

The second area of involvement is advocacy efforts in overcoming the epidemic which we approach at two levels; the “in-reach”, constantly challenging churches and improving the standards of our responses, and the "out-reach" directed at other stakeholders, including the civil society, governments and the industry. WCC has also been active at the UN and WHO in promoting the churches’ involvement in the issue on the international platform.

In 2000, the WCC and our funding partners set up the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance - which is a broad alliance of Christians, currently focusing on advocacy efforts related to issues of HIV & AIDS. We promote the ‘greater participation of people living with HIV & AIDS’ in the life of the church. At every international, regional, national and denominational gathering, we promote the participation of people living with HIV & AIDS, giving talks and advocating inclusive workplace policies and sustainable methods of working with networks of People Living with HIV & AIDS. In Africa, Latin America and the Pacific, we have facilitated people living with HIV & AIDS to be part of a team with the churches – as resource persons in empowering churches to deal with the issue in a more holistic and inclusive manner.

WCC has also been actively engaged in the transformation of theological education to equip laity and clergy in dealing with the issue effectively, prophetically and in a compassionate manner within their own contexts. The methodology facilitates the discussion, dialogue and the publication of documents and texts, which promote a more holistic understanding of the issue. Theological seminaries, continuing education facilities and extensive programmes of training of trainers for pastors and laity, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa, have been beneficiaries of these materials.

Finally, WCC accompanies the churches in a tangible manner in the different regions. The most advanced and visible of this action is the ‘Ecumenical HIV & AIDS Initiative in Africa’ which functions in the region in a consultative and participatory manner - with the involvement of churches in the region, People Living with HIV & AIDS, ecumenical bodies in the region and ecumenical agencies and churches in the North. The Initiative has five regional offices (East, West, Central, South and Lusophone African). Its Regional Coordinators along with Consultants who assist in the theological education and transformation, and Regional Officers who live with HIV & AIDS, work closely with regional and international advisors - to accompany churches to become competent in dealing with HIV & AIDS.

Question 4. How can WCC support advocacy events such as this petition “Africa needs medicines - now!”
My presence here with you today demonstrates our strong support for this very innovative and meaningful campaign. I am here not only to stand alongside you to stress the need for immediate action, but also, I am here representing the global fellowship of the WCC. I want to express our appreciation and gratitude to the churches in Switzerland for their sisterly and brotherly love for Africa, and for mobilizing public opinion for positive action.

We will act as multipliers by sharing this great example of solidarity with the constituency of the WCC worldwide and hope this will encourage many more to take up similar action within their own contexts. I hope and pray that your efforts for Africa will be fruitful in bringing new hope and life and energy for all those who are affected in one way or another.

Question 5. Do you have any other personal message to be addressed to the churches, to the Swiss Government and to the pharmaceutical industry?
I deeply thank the churches of Switzerland for this commendable pro-active initiative. I believe your initiative today will bring the message - to make treatment more accessible for all - closer to everyone’s heart and mind. What you are doing puts in practice the Gospel of Jesus Christ - I was sick and you cared about me. It is my hope that you will be able to follow through this campaign to fruition. It is also my belief that the great partnership of the churches in Switzerland with the people of Africa will be mutually enriching and energizing for our corresponding missions. We have much to learn and share with each other.

The Swiss Government's recognition of the issue of HIV & AIDS is evident through its support to UNAIDS, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS TB & Malaria and through direct bilateral support for many countries in dealing with HIV & AIDS. I commend the Swiss Government for that. My hope and my prayer today is that the Swiss Government will take greater cognizance of the tremendous impact that HIV & AIDS has on humanity and scale up their support for action against HIV & AIDS worldwide. I believe there is room for enhancing funding and giving impetus and encouragement to research and to drug industries to provide technologies and know-how for poorer economies to make access of HIV & AIDS drugs a reality in our life-time.

The pharmaceutical industry's efforts in industry research and ingenuity have provided humanity with many vital and life-enhancing drugs. It is very true that you are accountable to the many that invest in your companies. While I am aware that profits are a key component that brings more resources for more research and greater breakthroughs in the discovery of new drugs, I, nevertheless, appeal to you that when it comes to HIV & AIDS, don't put profit before life. It is my belief that in further lowering the costs and making the antiretroviral drugs more accessible in the poorest regions – your industry could be a gift to humanity by giving a second chance to many to live full and meaningful lives. This is a gift that only you can provide - and missing the opportunity to contribute with open arms at this crucial juncture would be a great loss to both humanity and your very valuable industry.