Today there was a talk given by Dr. Tadataka Yamada, president, of the Global Health Program of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

His talk was entitled, Perspectives on Global Health. One would imagine that coming to such a talk would reveal a discussion of lofty ideals: finding a cure for AIDS or the key solution to the eradication of all diseases in the world. It was not. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by a challenging, yet very humble testimony from a man who – yes, may have all the prestigious titles next to his name – but more importantly, has a compassionate heart that desires to do whatever it takes to combat the arduous battle of infectious diseases that devastates and ravages the world.

Here’s a question that he posed to us: Can we, who live comfortably here in the states, who will most likely never be affected by such devastating diseases, standby and continue to live as we are when millions, millions, are dying everyday(!) by easily preventable, and treatable cases?

Dr. Yamada talked about innovation and putting the best minds in the world towards solving these complex issues. We need to stop beating a dead horse, step back, and see what other avenues and ways we would be able to approach the eradication of such diseases like malaria, TB, and HIV/AIDS. Often times, the world may be looking for a super drug to be the cure-all. But infectious diseases are not just medical issues; they are also social issues. For example, HIV/AIDS is not just about contracting a deadly virus (a medical issue). There are men in Africa, for instance, who have a wife at home and also a “wife” when they go on their trucking duties. And then they have another “wife” when they go visit another city to do business. The effect is exponential because these “wives” have other “husbands” when their real husbands are not around. This creates an unbelievable sexual, social network that breeds and spreads this disease around. Indeed, HIV/AIDS is a very complex issue. And we need to be thinking outside of the box to eradicating it!

Dr. Yamada mentioned that there are other, more practical, feasible, and effective approaches to fighting diseases such as HIV/AIDS. For instance, he talked about a phenomenal idea by an NGO that decided to create a special club for youth in Africa. To get into the club and stay a member, a person had to keep his/her blood “clean”—in other words, keep it HIV-negative. The NGO would test a member’s blood periodically to see if it was “clean”, and if not, the member would be kicked out of the club. The club has produced a whopping 3% drop-out rate! And the great thing is that the older youth kids have been so enthusiastic about the club that they have been spreading the word to children as young as 8 to come and join them! What an effective idea! The program targets the youth because they are the next generation – the future of Africa. And it is through prevention awareness that the rampaging diseases will ultimately damper.

In all this, my thought was, “Where is the church to be in all this? How can the church be involved and make a difference?”

I believe the possibilities are endless. The intensity and fervor, by which we invest in people here, and run the ministry here, is what can be the difference over there! We just need to stand up and be the generation that is the salt and the light to the world that Christ is the answer.

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’ --Is. 6:8