Child Hope brings hope to the sick in Zambia

Estimates are 1 in every 6 Zambians are HIV positive. This number is astounding! Especially with what we know now about AIDS that we did not know in the 80's. Why is the incidence so high in Zambia? A big part of the problem is lack of education about HIV/AIDS. Instead of learning more about how HIV is spread, many Zambians prefer to not think about it at all. Child Hope Zambia is educating the communities in an effort to stop the spread of HIV. (More on this later)

Many who are sick in Zambia refuse to go to the clinic to get the medications they need to live. The reason for this is because they fear what their neighbors will say about them. Which is why this woman's statement, declaring her status is so profound! Her only concern is that she gets the word out for her children to get the help that they need.

This is a video of one of the mothers of 5 of the children that are part of the Child Hope Zambia sponsorship program. In the video she is telling the group of her HIV positive status. She says she went for an HIV test last year and the results were positive.

Thanks to the support that CHILDHOPE has given her, she now has the energy to do house chores and other community activities. She started with taking septrin before taking ARVs. She says she is very thankful for the food that she has been getting from CHILDHOPE.

She says the mealie-meal, cooking oil, sugar, soya meal and beans she has been receiving from CHILDHOPE have sustained her life. Now that CHILDHOPE has, also, provided her youngest child with the opportunity to attend preschool at the ECCDE centre, her burden has lightened.

She is happy that the sponsorship program will also include the ECCDE children as well. She says her child likes goats and having some would help sustain the child`s future.

Her husband is also HIV positive and bedridden. She is asking for sponsors who can help her care for her 5 children. Since neither she nor her husband can work, the children need help with school supplies, school fees, uniforms, etc.

She says, she would appreciate if any one could help in getting a bed, mattress and beddings. Since her husband is confined to the home and laying down, a bed would be more comfortable for him.

If you are interested in sponsoring one or more of her 5 children, please contact me for details. There are 4 boys and 1 girl. macandmic@gmail.com