LCF-Davao gear up for HIV/AIDS ministry

The Lay Camillian Family of Davao (LCF Davao) recently embraced the worldwide call to support efforts in pastoral care among people living with HIV/AIDS.  However, the present crop of LCF-Davao members who are extending pastoral care, found themselves neophytes – unprepared emotionally and lacking in knowledge about HIV/AIDS.

In response to this realization, the LCF Davao headed by Mrs. Guillerma Apigo, RND with her other officers coordinated with Fr. Marcelo Pamintuan, MI, the director of St. Camillus Hospital in Mati City, Davao Oriental and concurrently the Spiritual Director of the LCF Philippines, and organized a Pastoral Care Training on HIV and AIDS. 

The seminar took place last May 6-7, 2010 at the OPD-JICA Building, SPMC, Davao City.   The team of workshop facilitators included Bro. Dan Cansino, RMT, MPH who is on his pastoral year as a missionary; Bro. Eric Tampis and Bro. Jason Labrador, both in their Theology years, and Fr. Evan Paul Villanueva, MI.

Primarily, the objectives of the training workshop were to strengthen the LCF member-participants’ knowledge on HIV/AIDS and to deepen their understanding of its related issues.  At the end of the training the participants were expected to be able to 1) discuss the extent and impact of HIV/AIDS; 2) enumerate the cultural and social factors that contribute to its spread and list possible solutions to it; 3) differentiate between HIV and AIDS, discuss how HIV is transmitted and enumerate ways by which it can be prevented; 4) list current care and treatment for HIV/AIDS; 5) explain why a Catholic response to the HIV/AIDS situation is needed; and 6) develop an action plan in response to HIV/AIDS, taking into account the institution/milleus in which the LCF work.

The two-day training was developed into a participatory workshop divided into nine intensive sessions. The first four sessions focused on the course introduction: fruits of the Spirit; leveling of expectations; the epidemiology and biomedical transmission of HIV/AIDS; its prevention and the anti-retroviral treatment; the HIV Antibody testing and the responses to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The succeeding five sessions gave the participants opportunities to discuss and share on 1) dimensions of HIV/AIDS; 2) barriers to HIV/AIDS response; 3) wildfire and grassroots experience; 4) experiencing loss and bereavement and church responses to HIV/AIDS; 5) action plan formulation.

The sessions employed role-play and case studies combining elements of feelings, active listening and sharing.    Noteworthy was the part where HIV/AIDS was “personified” through the faces of two persons living with HIV (PLHIV). Their personal account, actual experience and current fight against its devastation encapsulated the theories and data presented throughout the entire sessions.

The workshops were capped by a candle light memorial service and theological reflections and prayers prior to a holy mass with Fr. Marcelo L. Pamintuan, MI and Fr. Evan Villanueva, MI as celebrants.

This training-workshop was made possible by the generous approval and support of the Southern Philippines Medical Center Chief, Dr. Leopoldo J. Vega, FPCS, FPATACSI and the active involvement of all LCF members.