AJAN – the African Jesuit AIDS Network was set up on 21 June 2002 by the Jesuit Superiors of Africa and Madagascar as an important common priority and work. AJAN is a new effort to respond to HIV/AIDS by developing an appropriate social ministry that

The steps foreseen are three-fold:

First, in each of the 27 African countries where Jesuits are, to encourage and help them to respond to HIV/AIDS by bringing those involved together into a taskforce or working-group which can develop responses appropriate to the local circumstances.

Secondly, to bind these national working-groups, step-by-step, into an effective continental Jesuit network with its own voice and ability to act in a co-ordinated fashion.

And thirdly, to develop good relations of co-operation with many other groups and associations, and with the larger Church and Society of Jesus, relationships based on a sharing of information, expertise, financial and other resources.

The co-ordinator of the African Jesuit AIDS Network is Fr. Michael F. Czerny, S.J., who for eleven years was Social Justice Secretary at the Jesuit headquarters in Rome and is based in Nairobi, Kenya. Assisting in the AJAN office are Mr. Elphège Quenum, S.J., of the West African Province (PAO), Ms. Grace Njoroge and Mr. Peter Ndungo from Nairobi.

The AJAN council includes Fr. Fratern Masawe, S.J., Moderator of the Jesuit Conference of Africa and Madagascar, Fr. Shirima Valerian, S.J., Provincial of the East African Province, Fr. Antoine Bérilengar, S.J., co-ordinator of the Jesuit Social Apostolate in Africa and Madagascar, and Fr. Muhigirwa Ferdinand, S.J., co-ordinator for HIV/AIDS of the Central African Province.

Visit www.jesuitaids.net for news and information on the fight against AIDS.

Download the latest news from AJAN pdf.

Download an Vatican Radio Real Audio interview.