I was privileged to be invited by Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to be a part of an exciting trip to Sudan and Uganda. This was a very informative, challenging and inspiring experience. Cogressional staff, national personnel and grassroots activists comprised the American delegation. We visited HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment programs, peace building initiatives, food securities and microfinancing projects.
Our group witnessed programs financially supported by the United States. For months, DGAAN had advocated that funds be appropriated for African social concerns, particularly for HIV/AIDS programs. How thrilling for me to actually see the money being spent effectively. This opportunity enabled me to gain a deeper understanding of the global interconnection of our local and global efforts.
I was fortunate enough to travel on and to spend time with the staff, residents and volunteers at Upendo Village in Naivasha, Kenya. This was by far the most developed program that I visited addressing the needs of persons with HIV/AIDS.
Today, we are faced with life and death choices. AIDS is an extraordinary crisis. It is both an emergency and a long term development issue. Africa has an estimated 25 million people living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. There appears to be a stabilization in HIV prevalence rates, but this is due mainly to the continued rise in AIDS deaths offset by an increase in new infections. -UNAIDS
Throughout the reflection there will be quotes from the Executive Summary 2004 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic by UNAIDS: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
