After a week organizing and preparing, on the 20th of May the 2nd annual Wapenamanda District AIDS Memorial Candlelighting took place. We started at about 4pm with an information booth and the opportunity to send a message of rememberance, awareness and hope by placing names and messages on quilt squares. Papua New Guinea is not yet represented on the "AIDS Memorial Quilt".
Community members gathered around the cross while the program commenced. We had several speakers throughout the night talking against stigma and discrimination and what it means to support those living with HIV/AIDS. UTB sang a song and performed a drama depicting who Christ is in the HIV epidemic...is He the person who discriminates or the one who shows the love and support that Christ himself shows. After the speakers and drama, representatives from the international community and local community here in Wapenamanda gathered together to show that they stand together against the HIV/AIDS epidemic in PNG, to remember together those who have fallen in the fight against HIV/AIDS and to start the candle lighting ceremony. After they lit their candles, the community members had the chance to remember and memorialize those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. For many people in the community, for UTB and myself this was a very powerful moment because not two months ago, we lost one of our own to this horrible disease and it was a moment where we could acknowledge her death. This was a time for the community to remember those who have died in shame and denial, or worse.
After the first lighting of candles a friend of mine, who is HIV positive, spoke to her community about how she was infected and how the love and support of those around her has made it possible for her to be alive today. How, when shown the love of Christ from a friend, she was able to remember the love that Christ has for her. It was not through words that someone was able to convince her of His undying love, but through their actions, how they treated her. Afterwards, we invited leaders from various churches, hospitals, the community and other organizations to light a candle committing themselves to supporting those infected and those affected by HIV.
Afterwards, we invited those leaders to have tea, coffee, and 'bisquits' and talk about what we are going to do next. Right now, we stand divided and fragmented as we fight against HIV/AIDS. Mambisanda has UTB, Kumbas has some awareness, but there is no one working for the entire district. We formed Wapenamanda ACTS (Awareness, Counseling, Treatment and Support) and hope to start a movement that enables members of our community to own and participate in a positive movement that combats HIV and all that disorders our lives.
