For Botswana bishop, AIDS ministry is everyday assignment

Published: 2004-11-15

ROME (CNS) -- Bishop Franklyn Nubuasah of Francistown, Botswana, knows what it is like to personally care for someone dying of AIDS. When his housekeeper was diagnosed with AIDS, he took it upon himself to care for her in his home, administer her treatments, feed her, and even hold her up when she became so thin she could no longer walk. With 36 percent of Botswana's adult population infected with HIV/AIDS, Bishop Nubuasah is no stranger to the devastating effects of the virus. In fact, ministering to those dying from it has been a big part of his life's work. "It has gotten better," the bishop said in an interview with Catholic News Service. Recently, he said, with collaborative efforts from Botswana's government and foreign aid organizations and charities, the percentage of infected adults declined by 2 percent since 2003. "Just looking at the figures, it's getting better, but the number of funerals is not decreasing," Bishop Nubuasah said.

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