Physical Health Mali Project #4874

Nutrition and peer support for HIV+ patients

by GAIA Vaccine Foundation

Nutrition and peer support for HIV+ patients

Project Report | Aug 1, 2016
More than just food...

By Eliza Squibb | Executive Director

Sarra

Sarra is a little girl who comes to the Tuesday/Friday cooking group by herself. I’m sure sure of her age, but she’s probably around 12 years old. She hardly ever speaks, but she’s very observant. She’s HIV+, and her mother died, probably from complications related to HIV/AIDS.

Her father remarried and Sarra’s new stepmother found many little ways to mistreat her. Her father did not come to her defense, which Sarra says hurt her even more that her stepmother’s abuse.

Now Sarra lives with an older female relative. This woman doesn’t believe in HIV, and so refuses to bring Sarra to the clinic to see the doctor and get her ARV medication. Also, she might be putting her out to work selling stuff in the market, which may conflict with her school attendance.

When Sarra arrived at the clinic last Friday for the meal. The other mothers in the group immediately started pointing these things out to me. They told me she has lost weight since she stopped taking her medication.

The dedicated staff at ASACOMSI will figure out a way to speak with her gardian and find ways to get her in for treatment again, but this wouldn’t have been possible without the women’s group advocating for this silent little girl.

The cooking group does so much more than just cook together. They support each other in a society that constantly tries to sideline them. They are able to speak up for each other as a group in a way that they couldn’t on their own.

I’m proud that GAIA is able to support this group of women little by little as they grow into their own organization.

Thank you for your continued support, it means the world to us.

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