By Alka Subramanian | ED/Founder
Power of Love's pediatric HIV/AIDS care program continues to improve the lives of several hundred children and families impacted by HIV/AIDS and malaria in Zambia. The vision behind this program is to strengthen women and grandmothers, so that they can take care of their children and sick family members at home. We do this by providing food, medicines, and a package of life saving health care services to HIV positive children, and training in caring for an HIV+ child to their caregivers. In addition, the children receive weekly visits from the healthcare worker, psycho social counseling, education on prevention of HIV, and adherence training and monitoring of the medication regimen. As a result of this high quality continuous care, 99% of the children are stable and/or improving in health since January 2013. In addition, the improved health of the children has increased their school attendance and performance.
We would like you to meet two children in our program who are doing well at school and have big dreams for their future.
Taonga is 16 years old and is studying in grade 7. She wants to take courses in Nursing after she graduates out of high school. Taonga is happy that her aunt who cares for her is receiving mealie meal (a Zambian staple) and beans from our pediatric HIV/AIDS care program. In addition, Taonga receives weekly visits from a health care worker, psycho social counseling, monitoring and training in adherence to medication, and education in prevention of HIV. We are proud of Taonga as she takes her ARV medications on her own and is working hard at school to become a Nurse.
Mabvuto is 15 years old and lives with his mom and Uncle. He is studying in grade 6, and loves playing soccer. He and his friends have formed a soccer team and they play games with other soccer teams in the neighborhood on Saturdays and on Sundays after Church. Mabvuto is aware of his HIV positive status and has discussed this with his friends and family. He takes his medications every evening at 8 p.m. and goes to the clinic for his appointments on his own. He told us that he learnt about HIV/AIDS in school. Mabvuto loves school and wants to become a doctor.
Our program impacts 200 children and their families directly and an additional 1200 children indirectly as the family members share their knowledge of caring for an HIV+ child with others in the community. The children would like to thank you for your continued support for this program. Your support and donations will provide much needed food, medicines, and health care services to several hundred children in the community of Matero in Lusaka, Zambia, and help them stay healthy and in school. We could not have done this without you.
Thanks again for your love and support for these children. Have a wonderful holiday season and a peaceful and joyous new year.
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