United Methodist- related Entities Enter in Partnership Aiming to Improve Health in Africa

Africa University, Methodist Healthcare of Memphis and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis have engaged in a partnership to equip health care professionals from Zimbabwe to deal with HIV/AIDS. Though the partnership has started for 3 years, this is the very first time that it is shown in the interviews recently.

There has been a long period of preparation before the partnership has become what it is today. The conversation began in 1999 between Methodist Healthcare Chaplain Elvernice "Sonny" Davis and Dr. Raul Ribeiro, director of St. Jude's International Outreach Program.

Minister Davis recognized the important role of Africa University as an avenue for helping stem the pandemic in Africa in physical terms. The partnership provides a way for Africa University to do outreach and expand the church's ministry as well as change health care across Zimbabwe, said James Salley, associate vice chancellor of development at the United Methodist-related school.

The partnership provides a way for Africa University to do outreach and expand the church's ministry as well as change health care across Zimbabwe, said James Salley, associate vice chancellor of development at the United Methodist-related school.

"My dream is that United Methodists would see this joint ministry and their investment in Africa University as a good thing because of the human good now being done and the potential it has for the future," he said.

Now, the school's new Faculty of Health Sciences will assist Methodist Healthcare and St. Jude in developing the program. The Medical Center of the University of Kentucky is also providing assistance.

Each day across the African continent, nearly 7,000 people die from HIV/AIDS. In many parts of Africa, the health care system is so poor that instead of being a tool for treatment it actually becomes a transmission agent - through the re-use of needles - in spreading the virus. Globally, AIDS is the leading infectious cause of death. An estimated 42 million people worldwide - including 3.2 million children under age 15 - are living with HIV/AIDS.

Africa University has committed to provide on-site training of distance-learning opportunities for Methodist’s health care programs and St. Jude. Study Trip has organized for the health care professional from these two entities.

One participant was Dr. Tendai Manyeza, the doctor at Africa University and Mutare Mission. The training gave him and the other health care providers up-to-date information and practical knowledge about HIV/AIDS, Caniza said.

"The ultimate goal is to improve the survival (rate) or prevent AIDS in places where it is so prevalent," she said. One day, she said, she hopes that trials of a proposed vaccine will be conducted from Africa University.

"Africa University is crucial to these efforts," Dr. Patricia Flynn, a member of St. Jude's Department of Infectious Diseases said, "because the efforts to educate people in Zimbabwe and the entire African continent are critical to have qualified health care people to deliver care among the population. It is through these individuals who are known, trusted and respected within their communities that we can have the most impact in spreading information and providing care. Africa University will bring to us a sense of cultural sensitivity."

Flynn believes that the partnership is promising. “This is not done to make money or to become famous. It is done because it comes from our hearts? it is a mission we have,? she added at the end.