Anse Aux Pins parish church resumes services with Aids candlelight memorial |25 May 2020

Father Adrienne celebrating mass (Photo: Jude Morel)

• Persons living with HIV urged to take medication, especially amid COVID-19 pandemic

As religious services resumed on Saturday May 23, worshippers of the Anse Aux Pins parish church commemorated the International Aids candlelight memorial during the special afternoon mass organised by the HIV/Aids Support Organisation (Haso), in collaboration with Father Lonnie Adrienne.

The International Aids candlelight memorial usually falls on the third Sunday of May, and is a time to remember the many lives lost to Aids, and to honour those who dedicated their lives to helping people living and affected by HIV and who continue to mobilise our communities in solidarity.

Numerous events are held around the world, to help raise awareness about HIV and over the years, these events have helped break down stigma within communities.

Haso, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) who has over the past seven years worked towards reducing the national incidence of HIV/Aids and to protect the rights of persons infected and affected by HIV/Aids, usually celebrates this activity by candlelight procession and a public gathering on the specific day which this year should have been May 17. But due to restrictions in place in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation has this year been unable to do so. It was decided, together with Father Adrienne, that Saturday, which marked the resumption of religious services, would be the right occasion, while also serving as a community mobilisation campaign to raise social consciousness about HIV/Aids.

Despite Haso’s efforts to raise awareness, chairman Justin Freminot is of the view that more sensitisation campaigns are necessary, expressing concern over the mortality rate from HIV/Aids over recent years and the reluctance of some infected persons to follow appropriate treatment.

“One thing we want to raise awareness about is the number of people losing their lives to Aids in Seychelles. During the past year alone we had 16 persons who lost their lives to Aids and we strongly believe that nobody in Seychelles should die from Aids as we have access to medication, and we want to sensitise people that being infected with HIV doesn’t mean one will die, and advocate that. In fact, a person can live a long, healthy life if they are following the right treatment,” he said.

“Our biggest appeal right now, there are over 100 persons in Seychelles who know they are HIV positive, either they have been tested and have never taken medication or others who started medication but then discontinue doing so. We want to let them know, from what we have researched, they are at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus if ever there is a second wave, if they are not taking medication,” Mr Freminot stated.

As the NGO does not directly offer treatment, it is difficult to trace who is infected and who discontinues medication, so Mr Freminot is urging people to get tested and for those who already tested positive to contact the organisation if they need assistance to start or resume treatment, on 4388230 or to call by their office, noting the urgency to do so as persons who are not following treatment are more at risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus if exposed to it.

During the memorial service on Saturday, candles were lit and placed on the altar. A large red ribbon, the universal symbol of awareness and support for persons living with HIV also stood before the altar, a symbol of solidarity. Worshippers prayed for those affected by HIV all over the world, as well as for their families and relatives and the countless medical professionals and persons working to combat the spread of HIV.

In line with directives and the guide issued by the Public Health Authority (PHA) of the department of health and different faith-based organisations for religious services during the ‘new normal’, some long-practiced traditions and rituals had clearly changed, including the symbolic handshake exchange of peace, offering as well as communion. Benches had also been clearly demarcated to facilitate social distancing. Instead of passing around a receptacle for offerings to be made, believers were invited to drop offerings in two boxes placed in the front and middle of the church, all the while maintaining distance between them. The symbolic exchange of peace is now a simple nod and smile and communion distributed after Father Adrienne sanitised his hands, of course with worshippers maintaining social distancing between them.

The candlelight memorials started in 1983 by a group of people living with HIV and since then there has been thousands of events organised around the world by the community-based organisations.

Laura Pillay