HIV Prevention: What Works?

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The Collaborative for HIV and AIDS, Religion and Theology (CHART) at UKZN’s the School of Religion, Philosophy and Classics on the Pietermaritzburg campus, hosted a panel discussion under the theme: “HIV Prevention:  What works?”. 

Panellists included UKZN Research Associate, Professor Beverley Haddad; a Medical Doctor at Don Mckenzie TB Hospital, Dr Stephen Carpenter; the Director of Community Care Project (CCP), Dr Benson Okyere-Manu, and CHART member and UKZN Lecturer, Dr Lilian Siwila.

The panel discussion was chaired by the Director for CHART Dr Herbert Moyo with each panellist presenting their opinions on what works in HIV prevention and what doesn’t. 

Haddad said the epidemic should not be viewed simply as a moral issue but as a justice and health issue.  Sex needed to come out of the closet theologically and faith communities should deal with issues of sexuality ethically and contextually.

She said faith communities could no longer be silent in the fight against HIV, refusing to discuss sex and sexuality in churches.

Sharing his experiences working with people living with HIV, Carpenter said the church needed to encourage masturbation as an alternate form of sex to decrease the infection rate.

He also said that cultural practices such as lobolo need to be re-addressed. In South Africa some men were unable to afford lobolo obligations to get married and live in a stable relationship and this hindered HIV prevention, as men were more promiscuous when they lived away from their spouses, which is the case if they had not paid lobolo.

Oykere-Manu spoke about his work in communities and how important it was to focus on the youth when discussing prevention. 

Siwila highlighted the need for sexuality and gender dynamics to be overtly addressed in religious circles as a platform for sex education.  She looked at culturally defined boundaries which are guarded by gate keepers of particular cultures, where the language used to talk about sex is still idiomatic and hidden.  In order for HIV prevention to be achieved there was a need for a language about sex that is clearly understood by the young generation. 

The panel discussion was well received with audience members commenting on the “excellent content” and “good choice of panelists”.

The discussion was well attended by staff and students and included guests from Norway, the United States, and Brazil.

Kelly Jacquire