CHRISTIAN HIV

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CHRISTIAN HIV AIDS NETWORK OF LIBERIA (CHANOL)

• Presented by Selma Scott Gibson
• Co-presented by Rev. Moses B. Gobah

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MAP OF LIBERIA
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PURPOSES

• To provide a brief background of the Network
  (CHANOL)
• Explain the benefit of Technology to the
  improvement of the Network activities

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INTRODUCTION

• The Christian HIV AIDS Network of Liberia
  (CHANOL) is a non-governmental Faith Based
  Organization comprising Churches and Para-Church
  Organizations with a membership of 32 Churches
  and Christian organizations

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VISION

• To ensure the Reduction of the Incidence of HIV
  AIDS in Liberia

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MISSION

• To effectively consolidate and coordinate the
  Christians and partners response to HIV AIDS
  through NETWORKING and COLLABORATION.

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BACKGROUND

• The Lutheran, Methodist and Catholic Churches met
  in 2002 to establish a forum that would
  facilitate networking amongst Churches and other
  Christian organizations to forge partnership with
  other stakeholders to initiate advocacy for a
  positive Christian response to the HIV/AIDS
  pandemic in Liberia.

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BACKGROUND CONTD

• In 2006, CHANOL solicited partnership with
  PACANET.
• In June 2006, PACANET made an
  assessment visit to Liberia
• As a result, a six-member taskforce was
  constituted to facilitate the networking
  relationship between CHANOL and PACANET

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NETWORK FORMATION

• Thereafter, the taskforce through the support of
  PACANet identified a consultant to undertake the
  situation analysis of the Church response to the
  HIV and AIDS pandemic in Liberia.
• The report from the situation analysis was
  presented to the Called to Action Church
  Leaders Conference.

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• Call to Action Conference
• A Call to Action Conference CAC drew 51
  participants from 12 Christian Denominations and
  13 Christian Organizations

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CAC OBJECTIVES

• To share the results of the situational analysis
  report and
• To start a process of building trust and working
  relations among the church leaders in envisioning
  the future together so as to respond to HIV and
  AIDS pandemic.

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Call to Action Conference Participants
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BISHOP CONFERENCE

• The broad objective of the Bishops conference
  was to solicit the inputs and commitment of the
  Church leadership to jointly reflect on the
  issues of HIV AIDS, in an effort to foster a
  coordinated Christian response.

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PARTICIPANTS AT BISHOPS and SENIOR CHURCH LEADERS
CONFERENCE
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Bishops and Senior Church Leaders Communiqué

• Whereas, we acknowledge and realize the
  comparative advantage and leadership role of the
  Church to effectively address the underlying,
  fundamental threats posed by this pandemic
• We, therefore, observe, resolve and commit to the
  followings
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• That HIV AIDS is NOT a curse or punishment from
  God, but a disease that can infect ANYONE
• To participate in the effective prevention of
  further spread of HIV and to mitigate the impact
  of HIV AIDS
• To engage in Family Life Education as a critical
  entry point for effective prevention of HIV
• To amplify the voice of the Church on critical
  issues regarding HIV and AIDS
• To combat Stigma and Discrimination against all
  persons infected and affected by HIV AIDS

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Communiqué Contd

• To develop HIV AIDS policies to provide
  guideline and direction for our church practices,
  teachings and intervention initiatives
• To respond with Christ like compassion and care
  to all persons infected and affected by HIV and
  AIDS
• To engage strategic partners and individuals in
  rigorous resource mobilization campaigns to avail
  resources for the implementation of the
  intervention initiatives of the Church
• To establish an effective collaborative front
  under the umbrella of the Christian HIV AIDS
  Network of Liberia (CHANOL) to coordinate a
  consolidated Christian response to HIV AIDS in
  Liberia
• Therefore, we pledge to work together in a united
  front to address HIV AIDS.

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Church Leaders workshop on Stigma
Discrimination

• The aim of the training was to facilitate Church
  Leaders to acquire the requisite knowledge,
  skills and positive attitudes necessary for
  improved responses and actions on HIV and AIDS
  related stigma and discrimination in the Church
• The training brought together 33 delegates
  representing 23 churches and 10 organizations.

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Participants at Church Leaders workshop on stigma
discrimination
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Change Agent Training

• The purpose of the Change Agents training is to
  identify and build a core group of individuals
  who will drive a process for a shift in paradigm
  in the overall Christian response to HIV and
  AIDS.
• A total of twenty-one (21) participants,
  representing a wide range of denominations and
  Christian organizations attended the training.

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Partial view of participants during a working
session at Change Agent Training
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CONSENSUS BUILDING CONFERENCE

• The Consensus Building Conference was a critical
  step in the network development
• It introduce a new dimension in the management of
  the Country Christian AIDS Network, Christian HIV
  and AIDS Network of Liberia (CHANOL)

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Consensus Building Conference Objective

• To facilitate the delegates to design the
  strategic direction of the CCANet and
• To elect a governing body to assume the
  responsibility of administration of the CCANet

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Participants at Consensus Building Conference
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CHANOL BOARD

• At the end of the Consensus Building Conference,
  an eleven member board was elected and
  commissioned to serve a three year period
• The Board membership comprise individuals from
  churches as well as Christian organizations

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Cross Section of Board Members
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PARTNERSHIP

• CHANOL in Partnership with Mercy ship invited
  Rev. Canon Gideon Byamugisha to Liberia in 2007
• During his visit, a capacity building was
  conducted for members of CHANOL
• Two conferences were also hosted for church
  leaders at which time 67 persons who attended the
  conference prompted to do HIV test

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Rev. Canon Gideon Posted with some members of
CHANOL
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PARTNERSHIP Contd

• Between 2003 2005 CHANOL received separate
  grants from UNDP, USAID, CRS, ELCA, and WFP to
  sent 23 Liberian Counselors to Bostwana for
  advance Training of Trainers in HIV and AIDS
  Counseling.

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FIVE YEARS (2009 2013) STRATEGIC PLAN

• A FIVE YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN HAS BEEN DEVELOPED
  IN SIX (6) THEMATIC AREAS AS FOLLOWS
• To conduct research to avail information for the
  enhancement of the Christian response to HIV and
  AIDS in Liberia

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STRATEGIC PLAN CONTD

• To create the forum or mechanism for networking
  and partnership amongst churches, Christian
  organizations and relevant stakeholders
  responding to HIV and AIDS in Liberia
• To empower the Church to have a strong voice
  (advocacy) in shaping policies and promoting the
  welfare of persons living with HIV in Liberia

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STRATEGIC PLAN CONTD

• To build the capacity of CHANOL constituency for
  an effective response to the HIV and AIDS
  pandemic in Liberia
• To mobilize resources to support the HIV and AIDS
  interventions of the CHANOL constituency
• To develop the institutional capacity of CHANOL,
  so as to achieve the above strategic objectives

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BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY

• Since the establishment of the network,
  Technology remain the major facilitator to the
  achievement of the organizations goal
• The Internet and phone (especially mobile)
  continue to serve as the fastest medium in
  communicating with our members and partners

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BENEFITS OF TECHNOLOGY CONTD

• The usage of the Internet (Web) is essential in
  getting acquainted with the works of other
  partners and stakeholders Example CCIH
• Most important among those equipments was the
  computer that remain the easier tool for writing
  reports and other data storage

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LESSON LEARNT

• Networking among Churches and other Christian
  Organization where members learn from each other
  and avoid duplication
• Member churches are able and ready to take
  ownership in responding to HIV when well
  facilitated
• Fighting stigma through local congregation,
  especially the use of the pulpit brings about
  change of attitude towards PLHIV

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CHALLENGES

• Lack of adequate funding
• Slow progress in de-centralization
• Inability to control monitoring and evaluation

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End of Presentation

• Thanks!!!
• Q A