INDEX OF QUOTES
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Although there are NGO’s working in the area caring for orphans, between us all we cover less than one-third of these children who need assistance. There is no family in the area which does not have orphans from relatives who have died from AIDS. As a consequence, even the children who are not orphaned feel the financial pressure of having extra mouths to feed and bodies to clothe in their families. In such a situation many stresses are encountered by the orphans — food shortages, lack of proper adult guidance, abuse, etc. The programme is trying to assist them to cope with these situations and others in their respective homes and communities. Government policy regarding orphans is against putting them into orphanages. We agree with this 100%. If a child goes to an orphanage s/he loses their house and piece of land, however small and humble. They also lose their identity and culture and as they get older, and are strangers to their own people. [In our district] we have almost 100 families of children living on their own. Their parents and relatives have all died. Many of these came from Rwanda, Tanzania and other areas of Uganda. When their parents and immediate relatives died there was no one else. This is becoming an increasing problem in this area. However these children stay together in their homes and are watched over by one of our Community Workers or by a kind villager. The number of children on our immediate waiting list numbers 2000. These are children whose parents were our patients in the Home Care Programme and have died. As part of our Home Care Service, we try to re-assure dying parents that we will take care of their children. Dying parents are always more concerned about what will happen to their children than what will happen to themselves when they die. Who will care for their children ... who will guide them ... who will give them a future? |
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