Sunday, May 20, 2007

AIDS


AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is a collection of symptoms and infections resulting from the specific damage to the immune system cause by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). Treatments for AIDS and HIV exist to slow the virus’ progression but there is no known cure.

HIV/AIDS is the largest and farthest-reaching pandemic to ever hit our planet. More people have died from AIDS than all of the other diseases and plagues through the centuries combined!

And, though there is no known cure, it is totally preventable! The virus cannot be passed on in an airborne fashion but must involve the exchange of body fluids. Therefore, by careful screening of blood transfusions and the choice to only engage in monogamous sex (and a few other behavioral changes) HIV/AIDS can be dealt an effective blow.

But meanwhile over 40 million have died from the disease and on the continent of Africa there are over 15 million orphans due to AIDS.

Thus, I’ve been asked by my church to take a vision trip to Durban, South Africa and to prayerfully meet with ministries and service providers to see if God is inviting our church to come along side and help in some kind of way. I’ll be in Durban all of this week and I’ll seek to blog as I have opportunity and share my reflections.

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