New Era

KATIMA MULILO

Youth from the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church at Katima Mulilo gathered on Sunday to launch a behavioural change campaign. They called for an end to immoral behaviour among youth in the Caprivi Region.
The event, conducted under the theme "Hope in the Darkest Hour," drew hundreds of youth groups in the Caprivi. Speakers preached against sexual immorality and drug abuse.
The event marks one of the SDA's church strategies to respond to national problems of HIV/AIDS, drug abuse and other problems emanating from immoral behaviour.
Namibia is haunted by the scourge of HIV/AIDS and the SDA Church's behaviour change campaign comes at a time when the country is slowly degenerating into a haven for drug abuse. The nation has in recent months seen a number of drug dealers being arrested by the police.
The influx of drugs into the country encourages drug abuse by youth, which results in increased violence and crime. The issue has also for the past weeks raised concern among parliamentarians in the National Assembly, with some of them calling for the intervention of the churches.
The event was characterized by a street march, singing and an address by a number of motivational speakers.
The principal of Mavuluma Combined School and a dynamic spiritual leader of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Davis Mubonenwa, delivered words of inspiration to the gathering. He encouraged the youth to build their lives on religious principles. Mubonenwa emphasized that though the lives of many youth today seem to be gloom due to the hostile and disease ridden world they live in, there is hope provided they have Jesus as their instructor. He narrated that just as Jesus swiftly changed the behaviour of the Samaritan woman, during her encounter with Jesus at the well, he was also willing to change their behaviours.
Mary Magdalene was a famous prostitute with seven demons but was instantly transformed into a saint in an instant encounter with the life giver "Jesus Christ".
Quoting from the letters of Apostle John 20: 1 and 2, Mubonenwa was quick to point out that the transformation of Mary Magdalene's behaviour, had forthwith motivated her to visit the tomb of Jesus on that early resurrection Sunday morning.
The change of behaviour, according to him, could take effect with every youth, provided they commit themselves to the principles of Jesus Christ by abstaining from all sexual activities until marriage and by not using drugs.
He said Caprivi Region faces a high HIV/AIDS prevalence rate and that the only solution to the problem is for very member of society to obey religious principles before the entire region is wiped out by the disease.
Speaking on behalf of the youth, Licha Munikonzo confirmed that though it is common knowledge that various methods have been adopted so far in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the youth are still not happy with the results produced. He emphasized the need for behaviour change among all sectors of the community.
"We believe that individuals and whole communities have the inherent capacity to change attitudes and behaviours. The power to fulfill this capacity is often denied or not exercised," he said while stating that such powers must be recognized, called forth and supported by everyone.
This will enable people to initiate change and sustain behaviours that promote a healthy state of mind, body, spirit and environment while at the same time a critical component must also be to support those living with HIV/AIDS.
Another motivational speaker from New Start Centre at Katima Mulilo, Chali Adventure, encouraged the youth to avoid stigmatising and discriminating against those living with HIV/AIDS. He said it is high time that every one starts to recognize that the disease does infect sinners and the righteous alike and that people should stop viewing HIV/AIDS as a disease of sinners only.
He said stigma and discrimination are very much detrimental to those living with the disease and thus must be avoided. He said Jesus Christ himself showed no discrimination against those who were sick and that such practice must extend to every human being.

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