Who Is My Neighbour? Faith-Based Organisations responding to AIDS in South Africa

AIDS intervention in Africa has been seriously hampered by the fear and stigma that people with AIDS pose a general health hazard to the population.Stigma is a common human reaction to disease.Throughout history many diseases have carried considerable stigma.AIDS is only the latest disease to be stigmatized. Some religious people believe that AIDS is a punishment or curse from God for promiscuous people.This belief reinforces stigma and discrimination against people living with AIDS making it difficult to seek necessary help.In WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?, Charles B. Manda challenges the "us and them" kind of attitude, thinking and behaviour of faith communities which has not stopped but fueled the spread of the epidemic through silence. The book demonstrates that Africa's faith community, which in many countries already provides most of the care and comfort for the sick and dying as well as the orphans and vulnerable children, has a very significant role to play in social and cultural antecedents of HIV and AIDS. Although the study is localized to South African context, the results have a much wider relevance to the Church as a healing, inclusive and accompanying community.