Christian Mission Aid
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Without Discrimination
74 year-old Michael has HIV the virus that leads to
AIDS. His 64 year-old wife has developed full blown AIDS. As I talk to him, she’s at home lying in bed, severely
weakened by the virus. Michael fears that she will die soon. “I am old. I had
eight children. Four of them are deceased. Two died from HIV/AIDS related
illnesses. The other two succumbed to cholera. They left me with six orphans.”
Michael’s greatest worry is about his orphaned
grandchildren. “I think these children
will die, when my wife and I are no longer there to take care of them,” he
says breaking down in tears. “I wish
someone would support them.” Michael’s story is common in Nyanza Province, Western
Kenya where HIV/AIDS is prevalent among the very old as well as the young with
an average infection rate of 14.7 percent. For Michael struggling with old age as well as HIV makes
life extremely difficult. His advanced age makes him easily susceptible to chest
problems, headaches and frequent bouts of coughing. These combined with extensive poverty and a poor diet makes
it hard for him to lead a normal life. With CMA’s support, there is hope for Michael. His
life has changed meaningfully since he joined CMA’s Community Leaders Educated
Aids Response (CLEAR) program. Together with 48 other HIV positive people, he
has learnt to live positively with the virus. With CLEAR’s encouragement and
guidance Michael and the others formed Bondotuchi
support group where they draw strength from each other. CLEAR aims at creating
HIV/AIDS awareness, providing HIV patients with medicine to fight opportunistic
infections, teaching Home Based Care through seminars and taking care of widows
and orphans in Nyanza province. As he sits together with the rest, Michael listens
keenly to the discussions as various CLEAR leaders give talks on proper
nutrition, relationship between infected spouses, dealing with stress, hygiene,
exercise and how to start income generating projects.
With your support, CLEAR continues to forge ahead with
the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, providing much needed medicine,
emotional, spiritual and sometimes nutritional support. HIV infection rates in
Nyanza have dropped significantly from 30 percent to 14.7 percent since CLEAR
joined the fight in 1999. It is our prayer that you will continue supporting CMA in the fight against HIV/AIDS and give hope for the future to orphans like Michael’s grandchildren and thousands of other HIV/AIDS orphans. Thank you for your support. |
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Not
so long ago in Kenya, AIDS was a disease that affected young people mostly in
urban areas. It was known as a disease of the young. Not anymore. This disease
now indiscriminately attacks babies, grandmothers and grandfathers. 