By Alka Subramanian | Executive Director
Power of Love’s pediatric HIV care program provides food, medicines, regular health monitoring, counseling, and adherence training to 500 children living with HIV in resource poor neighborhoods in Lusaka, Zambia. We are proud of all 500 children and their families. Over the last two years, all families learned about COVID and took measures to stay safe from COVID. Most families faced challenges such as loss of livelihood due to COVID restrictions and an inflation rate around 22% last year. Despite these challenges, most families improved in health and the children worked hard to keep up with schoolwork despite repeated school closings. Given below are stories of two children who inspire us every day. These children are our heroes.
Jay (name changed), age 11, lives in a two-room home with his mom and six siblings. Jay and his mom are HIV+; his siblings (including his twin brother) are HIV negative. His mom washes clothes to be able to afford 1-2 meals a day. Their home does not have electricity or water and three of his siblings are not in school due to lack of funds. Jay started medication for HIV when he was six years old. However, his health continued to be poor as he had fever, diarrhea, and vomiting. After joining our program two years back, his health started improving and he is now in good health. He is an active second grader and participates enthusiastically in our educational games and activities program.
Gayle (name changed), age 15 years, enrolled in our program in 2020. She lives with her parents (both living with HIV), and five siblings in a three-room home. Her mom is unable to do much as she had a stroke in 2019. Her dad works part-time as a casual laborer and is barely able to afford 2 meals for the family. Gayle started medication for HIV when she as two years old. However, her health continued to be poor, and a friend recommended she join our program. After enrollment, her dad received training in basic nursing and education in HIV. Gayle receives food, medicines, health monitoring, counseling and education in HIV. At present her health is good, and she is attending a special school as she is slow learner. She loves to play and interact with other children during our educational games and activities session on Saturday mornings.
Thank you for giving the gift of health to hundreds of children like Jay and Gayle.
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