Blog post by Laila B., Team Haiti 2012
It is estimated that more than 15 million children under 18 have been orphaned by AIDS. Every 15 seconds, another child becomes an AIDS orphan in Africa. Today alone, 5,760 children will lose a parent to AIDS. Some countries are so negatively impacted by the epidemic that approximately 20 percent of all their children are orphans – the majority having been orphaned by AIDS.
Caring for HIV/AIDS orphans presents many unique challenges. Even the best orphanages struggle to meet the physical needs of children with HIV/AIDS and cannot meet the emotional and spiritual needs. Institutions are not replacement for the structure of a family.
Inside institutions where there is little or no education children with HIV can be treated poorly by caretakers, even neglected. Often times sanitary conditions in orphanages are poor and exacerbate children’s weakened immune systems. Infections are common among children in orphanages and can quickly lead to death for children with HIV/AIDS. Simple antibiotics could prevent fatality in children with HIV/AIDS, yet often they are unavailable in developing countries.
Stigma is a another major challenge facing people infected with HIV/AIDS in the US and around the world. In the US families with adopted children who are HIV+ often suffer rejection within their communities and even among family members due to ignorance regarding transmission and stigma.
(adapted from www.projecthopeful.org)
Laila and her daughter will be serving on the Haiti Journey 117 Team leaving in March 2012 along with and others from their church in Evanston, IL.
Tags: Africa, Disease, HIV/AIDS, Team Haiti 2012
