HCC members that attended
Almost Two-thirds of all people living with HIV are found in sub-Saharan Africa, although this region contains little more than of the world’s population, AIDS has caused immense human suffering in the continent and the whole world at large. The most obvious effect of this crisis has been illness and death, but the impact of the epidemic has certainly not been confined to the health sector; households, schools, workplaces and economies have also been badly affected.
Of recent and in the past million adults and children have died just as a result of AIDS. Since the beginning of the epidemic more than 15 million Africans have died from AIDS
Although access to antiretroviral treatment is starting to lessen the toll of AIDS, still fewer than one in three Africans who need treatment are receiving it. The impact of AIDS will remain severe for many years to come.
As members of HOPE CHILDREN CLUB (HCC), we are committed to abstinence from sex till the right time.
“As children, we have been affected by the pandemic and it is hard to overemphasise the trauma and hardship that we are forced to bear due to the effects caused by HIV and AIDS. The epidemic not only causes us to lose parents or guardians, but sometimes childhood as well.” Children explain
“As parents and family members become ill, we take on more responsibility to earn an income, produce food and care for family members. It is harder for us to access adequate nutrition, basic health care, housing and clothing. And this directly limits us from going to school. Many of us are now raised by grandparents or and others left on our own in child-headed households. Our elder brothers or sister are heading the homes and this has left us with no love from our parents” Kaluba explains
We would love to call on all the concerned bodies that the way forward to this problem is prevention. Firstly, it is crucial to prevent us the children and the babies from becoming infected with HIV at birth as well as later in life. Secondly, if efforts are made to prevent adults becoming infected with HIV, and to care for those already infected, then fewer children will be orphaned by AIDS in the future. To our fellow children our there, ABSTAINING will be the better solution.
By:
Hope Children’s Club Members
