It is becoming well known that the disease A.I.D.S. is beginning to spread like wildfire in our country, as well as in other parts of the world, and it is, therefore, necessary to take a closer look at it.
The Disease
The initials of AIDS stand for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, and as the name indicates, this disease constitutes a deficiency of the immune system. Because of this deficiency, the patient is not able to fight off the various diseases which come around from time to time, and therefore the person succumbs and dies. And if the virus does not kill the person, it attacks the central nervous system and eventually causes dementia. The AIDS virus is only transmitted by intercourse with a person who has the disease, or by transmission of body fluids such as blood. There is extensive evidence that AIDS is not spread by casual contact.
The disease is spreading at such an alarming rate that we can speak of having a crisis. While it first app eared in the United States only as recently as 1981, figures of those having the disease in 1987 have climbed to 40,000, and already 20,000 have died of it. It is also estimated that between 1 and 4 million people have been exposed to the virus. Of these, 20-30% are expected to develop the disease in.the next five years. And the projections for 1991, just four years from now, are that the number of AIDS cases will rise to nearly 300,000. Some predict, furthermore, that the incidence of AIDS in the next ten years will reach the incredible number of 100 million. It is no wonder that some consider AIDS the most devastating epidemic of modern times.
Consequences
It is obvious that there are serious consequences of such developments, and we will have to come to grips with the problems associated with this disease. We have to come to a full realization of what these numbers of sick and dying people imply. What is our responsibility as a society or as a Christian community in face of this crisis?
In another ten to fifteen years a staggering number of AIDs patients and victims will need medical care and hospitalization. But each hospitalization is very costly. The average hospital stay for these patients is reported to be 167 days, and the cost for each is about $140,000. We can look forward to a severe shortage of hospital beds, as well as a shortage of people who can and will give medical care. Unfounded fear of contamination may prevent many from entering the health professions.
And who is going to pay for the cost of the whole affair? The health insurance companies, if they cover this disease, are going to have so many claims that their funds might be depleted in a very short time. That also means that health insurance premiums are going to have to go up considerably, so that those who are healthy will pay for the AIDS patients’ hospital stays. Gary North predicts that the AIDS problem will destroy the U.S. medical welfare system (Christian Renewal, May 25, 1987, p. 11). And employees cannot be fired because of having AIDS , since the disease is politically protected (C.R., p. 13). Since in five or ten years our hospitals will probably be filled with AIDS patients, will they still be safe places for people to receive medical treatment?
There will be other problems as well. Will our schools and colleges be safe places for our children to receive instruction? Where will the innocent AIDS child victims go to school? Will there be so many of them that separate schools should be available for them? Should there be special curricula for these children, so they can learn to cope with their prognosis, and with the trauma of seeing many of their fellow students die at an early age? Who will guide them and help them to face their many problems? And how much schooling, and of what type, should they get, if their life span is known to be so short?
Facing the Issues
Knowing that a very large number of people is going to die, and that the problem is rapidly getting worse, what are we going to do for those who do not yet know about forgiveness of sins and salvation through Jesus Christ? Must these people not be evangelized? Can the blood of Christ not cleanse these people before the throne of God as well as those who do not have the disease? And who will take care of the spiritual needs of these masses of people? There will, of course, also be Christians who have gotten the disease, either promiscuously or innocently, but they, too, will have to be ministered to spiritually.
What can and should be done about the situation at the present time ? And how should we prepare for the next ten or more years? We have to look ahead if we want to be able to face the situation responsibly as it aggravates over the next several years. We cannot be idle bystanders. Should we look to the government to take charge, or should the Christian Church do it? Should Christians form a new organization, or could we charge the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee and Mission Boards to develop ways to deal with it? Maybe we should follow mother Teresa’s example and set up AIDS hospices?
We should also be concerned with the prevention of the further spread of this disease. There is no cure for it, and neither is there a vaccine to protect a person against future exposure. This indicates that there is only one way to prevent the spreading of the disease, and that is by changing the outlook and values of the entire population. Strict monogamy is the only true answer. Living a morally upright life, and being true to your life partner is the way the Bible prescribes for us. But a large segment of our population does not live by biblical standards. This is obvious from the epidemic spread of the venereal diseases, syphilis and gonorrhea, which have continued to skyrocket, in spite of the fact that there has been a medical cure for these diseases for a number of years. Obviously our American population is very promiscuous and has not been persuaded in the past to change its ways.
For some of those who are not living by biblical precepts, the fear of the disease may drive them to change their ways sufficiently to reduce the chance of getting the disease. And those who use injections may be persuaded not to share needles or syringes with anyone.
Health workers are exposed to the blood and body fluids of AIDS patients more than any other occupational group. Their risk would seem to be high, yet the actual infection through work-related activities is practically unheard of.
Church pulpits, radio programs, TV preachers, school programs and other means must be use d to warn against promiscuity, and to urge people to live according to guide lines that will insure that they can not contract AIDS. Clean living must be emphasized, if not out of obedience to the commands of God, then at least out of fear for consequences.
President Reagan, in his first major speech dealing with AIDS (as reported in the Sioux City Journal of June 1) calls for urgency, compassion, understanding and care, instead of panic, blame , ignorance and rejection.
The president is seeking expanded testing for AIDS to include immigrants; federal, state and local prisoners; marriage license applicants; and patients at V.D. and drug abuse clinics.
Reagan is quoted as saying that “the only thing that can halt the spread of AIDS right now is a change in the behavior of those Americans who are at risk.” How true! And he rightly insists that sex education must not be “value neutral.”
That many are concerned about the AIDS epidemic is indicated by the fact that during the first week of June the third International Conference on AIDS held in Washington had more than 6000 scientists in attendance.
Comparisons
The AIDSs epidemic has been compared to, and could even be worse than the Black Death (or Bubonic Plague) of the 1340s which wiped out large segments of the European population. While the Black Death caught people unawares. and unable to do much about it, we have the advantage of knowing about AIDS and its spread, so that we have at least the opportunity to do something.
This epidemic reminds us of the fiery serpents in the wilderness, as recorded in Numbers 21:4–9, where the Israelites became impatient, and complained about their food. In response, God sent a number of venomous snakes which bit the people so that many died. When the people repented, Moses prayed for them, and God ordered a bronze snake to be made and to be put on top of a pole. All those who looked at the bronze snake were healed. God could heal the fatally snake-bitten Israelites in the wilderness. Can He not also today help those who repent of their ways? Remember what Jesus said in response to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14–15, NIV) There is a message of hope, also for the AIDS patient.
This is no time to panic. Instead we must be ready to meet the situation with the best of our resources. Let us obey God’s commands, and be strong and courageous.
Aaldert Mennega is Professor of Biology at Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa.