“Last week, Andries, a young boy
of 14 died.” By the time Andries was admitted to the hospital, he was
already quite ill. His caregiver challenged the hospital’s decision to
discharge him after only 4 days and a short time later Andries died at home.
It is at these times HFL recognizes just how important our work
is….how critical your financial support is ….how tenuous the difference between
life and death.
Andries, an impoverished HIV+ teenager lived in a desolate, isolated
village. He and his elderly caregiver regularly attended the support group
meetings run by VMS, until funding from Oxfam stopped last April. Funding
stopped…outreach workers were let go…outreach support group meetings stopped
….home visits to outlying villages stopped….Andries and children like him died.
HFL has always supported the ARV Workshops for children and adolescents
focusing on skills training, healthy diet information and discussions on the
social stigma associated with HIV+/AIDS. We continue to support the local
adolescents but we just do not have the funds needed to support the entire
outreach program.
VMS may have lost Oxfam funding, but they have not stopped caring. HFL
continues to support efforts to educate our HIV+/AIDS youngsters and their
caregivers. It is crucial that they understand the importance of adhering to
their drug regimen so our most recent contribution will be spent on a workshop
for caregivers to let them know that at the first sign of a child falling ill,
VMS MUST be informed.
HFL will always attempt to find emergency funding for any child who
needs immediate medical attention. We are interested in any new ideas on
how HFL can best support our HIV+/AIDS youngsters and the Community Outreach
Program.
