What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

[PILOT]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Tropics Said "When I did live in Jamaica the churches and church organizations like Youth for Christ and IVCF preached STRONG messages about Biblical standards w.r.t. sexuality. Now, the message often fell on deaf ears, but it was being preached. Has this changed? "

That message continues in a positive way, though health and wealth message is also in play.

Health and wealth meaning if you attend church and be a good servant in your "works" all will be yours.

The coordinated message conveyed sometimes lose the younger souls as it sometimes let vulnerable people become cynics.

Rather than listening to persons who they believe showing them bad face pertaining to their sinfullness.The youth inparticular in the new climate of culture wars, see and listen to the church, but believe the body called church is far removed from the the human crisis issues. And so experimenting later becoming promiscious rendezvous until hope is later lost.

The message could I believe be more emotionally concerned rather than judgemental, the approach also could be one where instead of trying to get someone to join your church. The congregation could be a friend to the community helping the public to understand the crisis while encouraging them in less combative words to change their lifetyle.

What about leaflets where the central theme is against Aids while speaking of the greater glory of Gods kingsdom. I have not seen any or received any such educational material from Churches. Its like the issue don't exist or should not be discussed within the church.Thats my experience...

[ohliz]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Pilot, I'm not arguing your point re: Hedo or anyplace that billsitself as a sex destination.

I just don't think you can include Nudist resorts (there is one in Negril) as part of that generalization because many, many people choose the nudist (or naturist) lifestyle and that has nothing to do with sex for them.

[PILOT]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Ohliz Said "Pilot, I'm not arguing your point re: Hedo or anyplace that billsitself as a sex destination.

I just don't think you can include Nudist resorts (there is one in Negril) as part of that generalization because many, many people choose the nudist (or naturist) lifestyle and that has nothing to do with sex for them."
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I hear you Ohliz... So what you think Jamaica should do in the fight against AIDS. Don't you think the Tourist board should rethink how it markets the natural resources including its people.Don't you think the way we are marketing the country contributes to us receiving sex addicts and persons looking for joyrides rather than healthy relaxation.

I think because Tourism has become big business and the bottom dollarline counts first that tourism interest are less concerned about the state of the moral infrastructure of the island and whether that infrastructure is decaying..sad but true...

but then are they suppose to care, the community is the one that is suppose to care, especially the church community. I hope when the churcgoers start hearing by 2007 that over 100,000 Jamaican have Aids or one in every six households that they won't start putting their hands up in the air and talking about lord deliver us.

By then the virus will be on every street in the country and its because no sustainable strategy or campaign was lifted to educate and drown out the risque sexual lifestyle that is rooted in popular culture.
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Of note The National AIDS Committee Jamaica which advises the Minister of Health in Jamaica on policy issues relevant to HIV/AIDS & STIs. Wants to get all sectors of the Jamaican society involved in its efforts to prevent and control HIV/AIDS & STIs.

To provide a sustainable means of supporting the initiatives of the NAC and member organizations funds from fundraising activities, public and private sector participation are needed.

For more information hit this link

http://www.nacjamaica.com/

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Also
HIV/AIDS Workshop on in Kingston

Wednesday, June 25, 2003, 9AM-3PM

This is to confirm that our final year BScN students, assisted by the 2nd year students, will be presenting an HIV/AIDS workshop on Wednesday, June 25, 2003, 9AM-3PM in the main Faculty of Medical Sciences Lecture Theatre.

The topic is "Life skills as an effective response to HIV/AIDS" The target audience is "young people" and the students from four nursing schools have been invited.

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[Rev James]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

The best place to start is right here. In the market place, among street children, past out pamplets on the subject. Start from the pulpit.
Get the government to make health education another course just like English and mats.
By this every body will get it and the next generation will be safe.

[LadyDayshah]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Originally posted by ohliz:
[qb]

I just don't think you can include Nudist resorts (there is one in Negril) as part of that generalization because many, many people choose the nudist (or naturist) lifestyle and that has nothing to do with sex for them. [/qb]

**** sigh **** [img]/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

[Tropicana]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

I think because Tourism has become big business and the bottom dollarline counts first that tourism interest are less concerned about the state of the moral infrastructure of the island and whether that infrastructure is decaying..sad but true...

One of the main reasons I detest our dependence on the tourism industry.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

What is the Church doing to about corruption and injustice and corruption in Jamaica?

All they seem to care about is prayers and the church building fund. The semi-literate so-called leader like herro blair seems contented to act as pitchmen and public relations officers for the Government of Jamaica.

Corruption and injustice waste or destroy resources, both monetary and physically; contributes to breakdowns in public health and other areas destroying the State's ability to mobilize efforts to prevent or halt problems such as AIDS/HIV.

Since they are so many pitchmen here for the Church what are Jamaican Church Leaders doing in Jamaica. What are their roles?

[Tuff Gong]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Originally posted by Rev James:
[qb] The best place to start is right here. In the market place, among street children, past out pamplets on the subject. Start from the pulpit.[/qb]

Correct Rev.

[ohliz]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Originally posted by PILOT:
Ohliz Said "I just don't think you can include Nudist resorts (there is one in Negril) as part of that generalization because many, many people choose the nudist (or naturist) lifestyle and that has nothing to do with sex for them."
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I hear you Ohliz... So what you think Jamaica should do in the fight against AIDS. Don't you think the Tourist board should rethink how it markets the natural resources including its people.Don't you think the way we are marketing the country contributes to us receiving sex addicts and persons looking for joyrides rather than healthy relaxation.

Does the JTB create or pay for the ads for Hedonism? That's the only resort I can think of that bills itself as a sex destination....maybe I am not aware of sex marketing the JTB does taht you're talking about?

I'm not sure that people that want to have unsafe sex won't go ahead and do it no matter what the JTB does in any case.

When I think of a sex tourism destination, I think of Thailand, not Jamaica. I'd hate to see Jamaica go in that direction (mainly because of the exploitation of children that goes on there), but I think we need to acknowledge that people will have sex, be it for fun or for money, and a good approach is to encourage and support abstinence (especially for the young) while simultaneously educating folks about condoms and how important they are IF one is going to have sex.

[PILOT]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

OhLiz said "maybe I am not aware of sex marketing the JTB does taht you're talking about?

I'm not sure that people that want to have unsafe sex won't go ahead and do it no matter what the JTB does in any case.

When I think of a sex tourism destination, I think of Thailand, not Jamaica. I'd hate to see Jamaica go in that direction (mainly because of the exploitation of children that goes on there), but I think we need to acknowledge that people will have sex, be it for fun or for money, and a good approach is to encourage and support abstinence (especially for the young) while simultaneously educating folks about condoms and how important they are IF one is going to have sex".

I agree with you ohliz...

Just a correction I never said the JTB have sex ad's, remember now the JTB is not responsible for advertising of individual hotel properties, rather they are responsible for advertising the JAMAICA product. The former tourism Minister did change spring break protocals as well as speak about her disapproval of the staging of nude weddings. The country has acknowledged and are concern about the the threat to moral values which counter cultures from abroad bring to the island.

It's the individual properties I am more concerned about, the hedo type marketing and sales tactics for example screams out at us all. They advertise on sexually explicit tv channels and in magazines and newspaper sections that are devoted top sex.

Ohliz, you are right when you say if people want to have sex anywhere they will. You are also right when you say education is needed. We all agree there... I think where I am more concerned at this time in this conversation is with when and where does the community step in to prevent an outbreak that can kill hundreds of thousands of people.

We already know we playing with a nasty plague, epidemic, pandemic... are we going to wait until entire staff complement or student body get wisked off to the morgue before doing anything collectively Church- state- everybody to prevent death from walking the land unecessarily.

That brings me back to Tropics and our dependence on tourism, I think we need to be concerned about sex tourism, because its a loose way of marketing the country and if we get dependent on a crowd of lascivious people to earn our living then it will also signal the failure of the church community to bring the flock home.

We all have arole to play in preparing the community for this longterm battle...and we all have a role to play in helping to save atleast one Jamaican from contracting this disease.

[Tuff Gong]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Navigator I find it funny that you are now on a campaign but wasn’t it you who said that it was immoral to distribute condoms what about you views on that. Are you still here or have you left the library?

[ohliz]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Pilot, I don't know. Churches have very different views on the best way to deal with AIDS - some think education and condom distribution is the answer, some think preaching abstinence is the answer....in this case I think the government has to look at countries that have succeeded in controlling/reducing AIDS and see what they did, and if possible, take Jamaica in that direction.

[RollinCalf]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

"What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Keeping confidentiality.

Ignorance is bliss.

[PILOT]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

Ohliz said Pilot" I don't know. Churches have very different views on the best way to deal with AIDS - some think education and condom distribution is the answer, some think preaching abstinence is the answer....in this case I think the government has to look at countries that have succeeded in controlling/reducing AIDS and see what they did, and if possible, take Jamaica in that direction".
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Ohliz the Jamaican Government and civil bodies within the Jamaican society have taken all these things into consideration. Distributin of Condoms, conducting HIV tests and educating people remain apart of the entire AIDS fight.

At this point what I think is lacking is that the most influential institution in the Country, with the largest constiency, that of the Christian Church need to move forward in helping the fight.

Preaching abstinence is a good measure but then is this message only being communicated to church members. What amount of effort is being put into a national AIDS campaign sponsored by Churches that is the the sort of concern I am still having.

The church has the correct message for winning this battle, it's just whether the denominations, council of churches are willing to go the extra miles in dollars and sense to deliver thier message to all peoples. The importance of Family life and Family values is central in the AIDS battle, trying to win new members and building new assembly halls is all well and good however at the end of the day when most of the community is afflicted by avoidable ills who is to be blammed.

Condoms are not the best remedy or for that matter the only remedy for fighting AIDS. As a matter of being full proof against the disease, Comdoms have been known to leak and cause folks to get infected with HIV. STD's STI's are also transmitted by Condoms making this weapon a growing concern.

The Christian campaign need to take on issues such as the importance of couples getting an AIDS test before having sex. This also has to be supported by literature that shows the sacredness of deciding to have sexual intercourse. Youths need to be taught that the burden of responsibility in sexual encounters lie squarely with the participants as a testimony to how mature and responsible they are in taking an AIDS test.

I am suggesting that the emphasis in a christian campaign would not be vested in highlighting the right to have sex, but would focus on the decision process while promoting abstinence before marriage and AIDS testing before sex in marriage.

Once individuals get into marriage condoms are frequently used as a matter of birth control by some couples. The institution of marriage remain the safest area to win the fight against Aids once individuals are choosing to having sex and so the Church has a significant opportunity to present that sort of wisdom in its own public policy on AIDS as a matter of urgency.

[PILOT]

Re: What is the Church doing to prevent AIDS in Jamaica.

The Question of AIDS and Morality and Marriage Vs Pop cult Behavior, in fornication, adultry, bestilaity, sodomy, orgy, sadism, etc, are at the heart of the AIDS Crisis and until Humanity is prepared to deal with the central theme of the importance of family and the union of Marraige as a testimony to purity and worship of a natural and pure God then the AIDS crisis will explode further.

The Church has got to make every attempt to reach all persons within the Jamaican community. Reflect upon the mistakes other societies are making and move to protect the Jamaican folk from the scourge of evil that is masquerading itself as healthy fun before it destorys our Zion.

Want to just share with you back in 1997
local AIDS support agency and San Francisco black clergy launched a historic collaboration to educate churchgoers about the disease.

The San Francisco-based Black Coalition on AIDS already has signed on with other religious organizations to develop ways to increase awareness among African Americans about AIDS and HIV prevention.

The black church, the African American community's oldest institution, had been under attack for the last decade for ignoring the disease and its far-reaching effects on the community. The campaign then came at a time when churches in the US were slowly recognizing the devastation of the epidemic.

Though African Americans make up only 12 percent of the population in the United States, they accounted for 41 percent of new AIDS cases in 1996.

"People have been asking me, "Where is the African American church in this?"" said Duane Poe, executive director for the Black Coalition on AIDS, which offers counseling, housing and support services to 1,200 HIV-positive and AIDS patients a year. "People find renewed and replenished spiritual conviction when they become ill. But the church has not responded. We still have this shame about this."

The Rev. Cordell Hawkins, assistant pastor of Double Rock Baptist Church, said that his church was one of the few in San Francisco during the late 1980s to take the lead among black churches to educate its congregation about AIDS and support those with the disease. Because Hawkins was involved with AIDS outreach programs at the time, through the Bayview Hunters Point Foundation, he knew how to help the church develop its own program.

Hawkins blames the church's absence in the fight against AIDS on a lack of knowledge among clergy about the virus.

"People have a right to criticize the church," he said. "The church should be the No. 1 place where people get information and support. If the pastor tends to not know, the congregation will not know."

Taking you back in time there but it just goes to show you that Jamaica's churches may well be late in the race than we think and its time they wake up.