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A Mothers Fight Against HIV
It is a chilly day, the door is open and it is cold in the little house. A woman is lying in bed in one of the two rooms of this small home. Bedridden, she is one of the many people who are suffering from HIV/AIDS in the community near Shakas Kraal north of Durban in KZN. After a number of healthy years with the virus in her blood, she finally fell ill and now has AIDS.
Although the woman had applied the ABC method against prevention ("A" Abstaining from sex, "B" Being faithful to one partner & "C" Condomise) it was not 100% effective for her. She had decided to be faithful, however as in every relationship, faithfulness is a two way commitment. Her husband first became infected and then passed the infection onto her. He has since died and left her with four children to care for, the youngest being born with the infection. In spite of what happened to her, the woman has chosen to forgive her husband for what he did. This account clearly shows that not all people are personally responsible for their infections. Innocent people have also become the victims of this terrible disease.
Infection by HIV was not her only challenge as her family abandoned her when they found out that she was HIV positive. It is due to the stigma & reaction from family & friends that people are frightened to make their status known. They are even hesitant to go for blood tests in order to know their status.
Dorcas Aid's partner, Mount Moriah Ministries send their Home Based Care Workers to visit this woman each day. Their care is practical; they do the dishes, sweep the floor, feed the woman, bath her and provide emotional and spiritual support. It is due to the support of the Home Based Care Workers that a notable difference is made in the lives of those too weak to care for themselves and their families.
Dorcas Aid has decided to focus on two very important areas in the fight against HIV/AIDS; these being prevention & care. As in the case of this woman, thousands of HIV sufferers are being helped each year by Dorcas Aid & their partners.
This article was written by Teuntje De Glee, a young lady from the Netherlands who has decided to do her internship through Dorcas Aid. 
Read more about the work of Dorcas Aid and Mount Moriah
Visit the Donations Page should you wish to support this work. Select Mount Moriah, Project 5428
For more information contact us: info@dorcas.co.za
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| Tuesday, 25 November 2008 |
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