Providing support to orphans

Most of the people who have died of AIDS have left behind one or more children. Most of these children lack food, adequate shelter, clothes, and funds to pay school fees for higher education. Some of these children, especially girls, are exploited through child labour and sexual violence.

While we are remembering the dead, as a community, we should collectively find means to feed these orphans and engage ourselves in income generating activities to directly support the orphans. It is our communal responsibility to report child abuse such as rape and child labour to the authorities including our village headman and chiefs.

Encouraging one another to go for HIV testing

In our communities few people know the benefits of taking an HIV test. As a result only few have gone for HIV testing in order to know whether or not they carry the virus. Lack of knowledge on voluntary counselling and testing (VCT) encourages many to continue having unprotected sex. Others become pregnant while unaware of their HIV status. Some of these people, therefore, are passing the virus to their spouses and unborn babies.

Let us encourage one another to go for HIV testing, mobilize resources for the establishment eof more VCT centres, and educate those who are HIV positive about access to free treatment at government hospitals. Anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) prolong lives of those living with HIV and AIDS thereby reducing the deaths of our loved ones.

Providing home-based care

There are now more AIDS patients who are being cared for at home by their children, parents, spouses or relatives. Most people who are suffering from HIV and AIDS related conditions have been referred back home because of congestion in most hospitals. Unfortunately, some AIDS patients die prematurely in certain communities due to lack of necessary support and care. Some AIDS patients do not have a well-balanced and nutritious diet. Also, some individuals lack funds to buy essential drugs to treat their opportunistic infections.

While we are remembering the dead, as a community, let us find sources to raise money and food to support AIDS patients. Let us have a communal garden that provides produce to AIDS patients living in our community. Let us participate in fund-raising activities and use the funds generated to buy drugs, food and home-based care kits.

Carrying out HIV and AIDS prevention activities

While many have lost their loved ones due to AIDS, their behaviour has not changed. Most people continue to have multiple sexual partners, some young people do not abstain from sex, do not use condoms and those who are married are not faithful to their spouses.

Let us conduct sensitisation meetings in our communities to educate people on the dangers of having multiple sex partners. Through peer education let us educate young people to abstain from sex, and educate the married people to be faithful to their spouses. Let us educate those who cannot abstain to use condoms correctly and consistently.