It is our privilege to reflect on the work of Dr Geoff Foster of Zimbabwe.

1.Significant Impact locally, regionally and internationally.

Geoff recognized in 1987 that HIV was a devastating exploding epidemic when he saw, within a few weeks, many infants dying of AIDS at the Mutare government hospital . He began a crusade which continues through today to alert the world through publications, speaking, and demonstrating personal concern as a pediatrician in Zimbabwe. In my opinion noone else has been more effective in bringing to the world’s attention the plight of children affected by HIV/AIDS and break the silence and hopelessness of Pediatric AIDS.

Below are a sample of his contributions:

2.Empowers others

Geoff created an NGO called FACT-now completely led by Nationals-he remains on the board-to be a channel for resources and to advocate within Zimbabwe for HIV in children and in their mothers. He has also worked extensively with  community based groups particularly those within the faith communities to bring care and prevention to the village level.

In particular he has worked with the CBO/NGO ‘Farming GOD’s Way’ to bring agricultural enterprises appropriate for orphans and the poor/vulnerable to  enable survival in the critical condition that Zimbabwe finds itself today.

3.the church is the avenue that Dr. Foster sees as the primary strategy of delivering prevention and care to children in Africa-he has shown it can be done in the midst of complete government failure and actual policies that promote HIV spread and human degradation.

4.as noted above, Geoff  with FACT, work primarily at the community level to bring programs for HIV prevention--and population survival in the absence of government/international programs.