Day Twenty-Six: The Real Heroes of AIDS in Africa

I am so grateful that I have both my mom and mother-in-law close by (as well as dad and father-in-law). They are so helpful taking the girls for special outings, acting as babysitters, and offering their support. I know that if something happened to either myself or Jason the grandparents would take them in a heartbeat. I know my children would be looked after & have many opportunities ahead of them.

When I think of 14 million AIDS orphans I can't imagine the burden on the family members left behind. It is often the grandmothers who end up raising the children. They are often in poor health, not able to work, and living on meager resources. Their child raising days are behind them, yet they graciously make lunches, mend clothes and take on more household duties. They are the true heroes of the AIDS crisis and victims at the same time.

Now consider the story of Monica Odour. She lives in Busia, Kenya on the border of Uganda. In 1996, she felt called to invite 6 orphaned street children to live in her home. She had 6 children of her own at the time and was trying to run her own business too. Nonetheless, the word began to spread and more orphaned children arrived. Soon she became known as "Mama Orphan". Today, Monica has 100 orphaned children in her care. She has not only opened her home but her average sized property now houses a "dormitory"/the main house, a dining hall with kitchen and a small "school" building. Monica still has some of her own children living at "home" & the grown children help with day to day needs of the orphanage. What great love and compassion she and her family have for Kenyan orphans. kenyanorphans.org

For Mama it is a struggle to put food on the table, clothe the children, pay for their schooling & pay for needed medical care. Within Kenya there is a stigma placed on AIDS orphans and many schools don't even want to take orphans. She often needs to find a new school for the children (as well as have uniforms made & even then they are turned away). Still, Mama perseveres & with a lot of prayer & support from the Kenyan Orphan Children Foundation she is providing not only food, shelter and an education for 100 orphaned children but love, care and a place to call home.

Day Twenty-Four: AIDS: A Death Sentence

It seems that we all know someone who has been affected by cancer. My prayers goes out to those battling cancer as well as their families and friends. And my heart goes to those who have lost someone dear to them to cancer. I don't want to diminish the grief and impact cancer has. But can I say the same of AIDS? To be honest, I don't know anyone, personally, who has died from AIDS.

When I look at AIDS in Africa I am stunned by the inequity of the situation. Here are a few AIDS facts (2010, Stephen Lewis Foundation & 2011,UNAIDS):

- 33.3 million people in the world are infected with HIV/AIDS, 68% are in Africa! Ninety percent of affected children in the world live in Africa!

- In 2008, there were 2 million AIDS related deaths world-wide, 1.4 million were in sub-Saharan Africa! (Roughly, 76%)

- In Africa alone, EVERY DAY 5700 people die of AIDS (~1400 children) & EVERY DAY there are 6800 new cases of HIV/AIDS (~1500 children)! (*To put the number above into perspective, on the Titanic- 1500 people lost their lives, on 9/11 5000 people lost their lives. Every day in Africa, a major tragedy is occurring.)

- 1 in 20 adults in sub-Saharan Africa are affected by HIV (60% are women, most aged 15-24).

- There were 14.1 million AIDS orphans in 2008 (*children who have lost lost 1 or both parents), there are only 8 million children in Canada. (Today the # is estimated to be close to 18 million orphans).

For a visual punch, check out the video at the Stephen Lewis Foundation site entitled "Diagnosis". www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/diagnosis.mpg

It is clear from these numbers that everyone in Africa (specifically sub-Saharan Africa) can say that they know someone who has died from AIDS. That they personally, have been affected. Like the "Diagnosis" PSA describes, an HIV/AIDS diagnosis is essentially a death sentence. In "wealthy" countries anti-HIV drugs are commonplace and significantly improve the quality and "quantity" of life for someone who is HIV positive. The ethical question of drug companies making anti-HIV drugs widely available to Africa is an issue I won't tackle today. Nonetheless, the AIDS epidemic requires significant funds to create a level playing field in the area of drug accessibility. The Canadian-based Stephen Lewis Foundation http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/ takes on fundraising as well as providing support for public education, grief counselling, and the basis necessities for orphans and grandmothers (the unsung AIDS heroes).

There is hope. Since the peak of HIV infections in the mid-90's to the peak of AIDS related deaths from 2000 to 2005, many sub-Saharan countries are reporting a decrease in persons affected with HIV/AIDS. It will still take a lot of money, education and activism to "turn the tide" on HIV/AIDS in Africa. www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/whatyoucando.htm And a long, long time before people in sub-Saharan Africa can say they have not been personally affected by AIDS.