2023-05-06 17:28:54
Several dozen children orphaned by HIV/AIDS live in difficult conditions in Beni.
They have problems accessing health care, education and even nutritional support.
The National Program for the Fight once morest AIDS (PNLS) and other structures that supervise them, plead in favor of these innocent people in a situation of double vulnerability.
It was on the occasion of the World Day of AIDS Orphans celebrated on May 7, but shifted to this Saturday, that the PNLS organized an advocacy meeting in the hall of the town hall of Beni.
Doctor Nicaise Mathe, coordinating doctor of the PNLS in Beni and Lubero demonstrates that the number of AIDS orphans is increasing every quarter in his operational entity.
“According to the latest reports, each quarter we register regarding 120 people dying of HIV. That is to say that these 120 left behind them orphans. Among the lamentations, there was a problem of access to health care, education and nutritional support. This is why we organized this activity to raise awareness and plead in favor of these children orphaned by AIDS. We have listed more than 80 orphans”, explains Doctor Nicaise Mathe.
This suffering of AIDS orphans was also confirmed by Kavugho Esther, a woman educator who supervises these children in the four communes of the city of Beni.
“When I visit foster families, it’s usually the grandparents who take them in. They are generally of the third age, themselves require assistance. That’s why they always ask me for help, even though I don’t have anything…”, she says.
The other testimony is that of another woman who has been caring for two children orphaned by HIV/AIDS for more than eight years.
“This girl’s mother left when the child was a year and a half old. The child often fell ill and I lost a lot of money. It was following many days that I learned that the child had HIV. But lately this child fell ill, they asked me 120 dollars at the CME Nyakunde, until today I still owe 20 dollars. May the authorities help us to take care of these children…”, explained this elderly woman, pointing to a girl of regarding eight years old.
Present at the meeting, Mr. Madirisha Vuyingo, representing the urban authority, promised to transmit these pleas to the competent authorities.
As a reminder, the World Day of HIV/AIDS Orphans is organized on May 7 of each year and aims to sensitize the public and governments to the plight of AIDS orphans.
Milan Kayenga/ L’INTERVIEW.CD
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