Slide deck capturing key messages from Zonal Training for the Galvanizing Religious leaders for Accelerated Identification and Linkage to pediatric ART (GRAIL) Project.

1. The
GRAIL
Project
….Galvanizing Religious Leaders for Accelerated Identification
& Linkage to Pediatric ART
INTRODUCTION
“We Cannot Make A Priest Into A Doctor In A Three Day Training”……… “But We Can
Capitalize on their pastoral leadership, training and compassion to address
public health problems”
•GRAIL = Galvanizing Religious Leaders for Accelerated Identification & Linkage to Pediatric ART
•Pediatric = Children
•ART = Anti-Retroviral Therapy; not a cure but are a combination of life-preserving drugs that helps people
living with HIV (of all ages) to live normal productive lives.
•GRAIL Project = A nationwide strategy driven by the developmental agency of the Church in Nigeria to bring
focus to the large gap in the children living with HIV who should be on life-saving drugs but are not!
•With the same blow, address the monster of (1) myths surrounding HIV and (2) HIV-associated stigma and
discrimination which makes it difficult for people to
• Comfortably come out and ask for a HIV test
• Comfortably start and stay on ART because HIV is no different from Malaria, Hypertension, Diabetes, etc. It is just an illness!

2. The
GRAIL
Project
….Galvanizing Religious Leaders for Accelerated Identification
& Linkage to Pediatric ART
Information, A Weapon Against
HIV
Justification for GRAIL Project - “Allow the Children to Come To Me” Luke 18: 16
•Nigeria is the largest single contributor to the 2.6 million children living with HIV (CLHIV) globally (It was 2.3 million in 2010!)
•Despite 32 years since the first case, 15 years of PEPFAR supported HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services AND over 5,000 HIV
treatment centers across the country.
•Everyone diagnosed with HIV must be started on ART as soon as possible.
•CLHIV Treatment Gap = Difference between [Estimated CLHIV in Nigeria] – [Actual Number of Children on ART in Nigeria]
•Adults are adults; but children are……..CHILDREN!
• Acquired HIV infection through no fault of their own
• Late Diagnosis among 0 – 19 years; especially 0 – 2 years age group
• Faster to die: 50% of CLHIV without treatment, die before 2nd
BIRTHDAY.
• Adolescents (10 – 19) are the only age-group where HIV prevalence doubled
despite worldwide successes of ART with adults
• THREE of FOUR new infections in adolescents is a girl in Africa
•Less than HALF of the children living with HIV (worldwide) are on ART
• Estimated 320,000 children living with HIV in Nigeria requiring ART
• Only 252,000 (21%) in need of treatment are on ART

3. The
GRAIL
Project
….Galvanizing Religious Leaders for Accelerated Identification
& Linkage to Pediatric ART
The Big Question
If there are so many children who are
supposed to be getting treatment for HIV
but ARE NOT, where are these
children???
Most of Them Come To Church

4. The
GRAIL
Project
….Galvanizing Religious Leaders for Accelerated Identification
& Linkage to Pediatric ART
Let’s Bring in the
Church & Help Find
Children in Need of
HIV Care

5. The
GRAIL
Project
….Galvanizing Religious Leaders for Accelerated Identification
& Linkage to Pediatric ART
Okay, We Have Been Trained. Then
What?
What Can Clergy Do?
STRATEGY:
•Using public health data, reveal the massive HIV issues in Nigeria to Priests and Religious; especially as it affects children
•Train Priests and Religious on the basic scientific information on HIV so that they can:
• Dispel myths about HIV and fight stigma
• Carry out basic assessment of sick children brought to them for assessment and ensure that those children get a HIV test as part of their medical check.
• Follow up with the families of children living with HIV so they remain integrated to the community and adhere to ART
VISION: A society, where fullness of life is for everybody (Jn. 10:10)
•Why Clergy? Fathers of communities; Influential and respected; Arbitrator; Counsellor……all natural roles that Clergy receive
from congregations/people.
Through homilies:
• Mention a word about health as wealth.
• Your message will help to disseminate message of care, healing, prevention, support and assistance to families.
• Therefore health is part of the saving mission of Jesus Christ. Care for the sick is an eloquent homily.
Through “Catalytic” Activities in parishes & communities
• Catalytic learning – attend the training with the mindset that “I am going to teach other”.
• Catalytic teams – plan to build a volunteer team in your community after the training
• Catalytic sermons – use the pulpit to evangelize about the truth behind HIV burden in Nigeria, HIV transmission and HIV treatment

6. The
GRAIL
Project
….Galvanizing Religious Leaders for Accelerated Identification
& Linkage to Pediatric ART
“A New Commandment I Bring To
You”
• There is no sickness called HIV. It is a syndrome. It presents itself with another ailment or sickness
(malaria, fever, stooling, etc. - reason why it is not seen or noticed easily)
• We must let people know that HIV is human.
• It is not a punishment from God.
• HIV cannot be “sent” to somebody
• It is not just a case of Prayer houses and adoration ministries.
• Pregnant mother who does not know her HIV status is making situation dangerous for her unborn baby
• People should receive the scientific truth about HIV.
• Today, HIV+ positive person can marry a HIV- person and will not infect the partner if the infected partner takes the treatment religiously.
• The HIV + mother can now have her baby free from HIV.
• So we need to direct and accompany our people.
• We must ensure that people with HIV do not develop AIDs.
Kairotic Moments for Action
• Feast of Holy Innocents 28th
of December
• World Day of the Sick Celebration 11th February
• Day of the African Child June 16.
• How to use these opportunities?
• Social media
• Special church activities
• Medical fairs with HIV tests offered (in collaboration with nearby health facilities, retired/serving medical personnel)

7. The
GRAIL
Project
….Galvanizing Religious Leaders for Accelerated Identification
& Linkage to Pediatric ART
HOW DO CHILDREN GET
HIV ?
Mother to Child
(MTCT):
•In the womb
•During delivery
•During breastfeeding
Others
•Blood transfusion
•Use of Unsterilized sharps
during circumcision,
scarification etc.
•Sharing of sharps (razors,
needle etc.)
•Female Genital mutilation
•Sexual Assault & Rape of
Children
“My people perish because of lack of Knowledge” (Hosea 4:6)

8. The
GRAIL
Project
….Galvanizing Religious Leaders for Accelerated Identification
& Linkage to Pediatric ART
Screening Questions for referral to
HIV Testing Services
• Are there tell tale signs that SOMEONE WHO IS RESPECTED by a parent or
care giver can see and INSIST that the parent/care-giver goes for a HIV test
in an atmosphere of trust and love?
• Who fits this role better than the Priests and Religious
• Training will equip you with information to help sick children in your
congregations ELIMINATE HIV as one of the possible reasons for a child
being sick all the time.
Join us and become a pediatric HIV Champion!!!
• Get basic scientific training about HIV
• Speak wherever you get the opportunity about HIV
• Identify other pediatric champions in your network
• Learn and use the screening questions for referring sick children and adults for a HIV
test
Call this Number for More Information: _ _ _ - _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _