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Visiting HIV/AIDS Clients in The Largest Slum in Mombasa, Kenya
By zaheen | August 10, 2009
I visited my family in Kenya this July and at the same time I wanted to visit an organization that was helping children with HIV/AIDS. In my last blog I wrote about how I did visit the clinic and offices of the AIDS Relief Project. Sister Veronica, the project coordinator, invited me to come along on client visits on July 23 and little did I know that I would be walking through the largest slum in Mombasa.
The slum is known as Bangladesh a.k.a. Bangla and as we entered the narrow streets to go visit clients, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing and hearing. The houses in Bangla are made from cement, concrete and metal and they are 500 to 800 sq ft and this same space is used as a bedroom, a kitchen and living space. The people living in Bangla come from an endless cycle of poverty and disease and in fact 75% of the population is HIV/AIDS positive and Tuberculosis is rampant. Most of the residents in Bangla make their living selling home-made alcohol also known as Changaa. To break the cycle of poverty, many organizations are helping by educating children and sending them to private schools (mainly Catholic). However, this funding usually lasts up to Junior High. Click on the video link.
A look at the largest slum in Mombasa
We started our visits at 8 a.m. in the morning and as we walked through the slum with Sister Veronica and Jane, a Nurse, we carefully avoided stepping on garbage and sewage and entered the first client’s house, which was smaller than a normal sized apartement bedroom! The client, a single mom of three kids, was lying down on a matress because she had slow paralysis from the waist down. She was recovering from TB and was also placed on HIV medication. Please see her video while Sister Veronica translates her dilemma regarding no food in the house and having difficulty paying school fees.
Client with AIDS and TB. Translation by Sister veronica
We continued our journey and visited another client and my heart went out to the toddler who was sleeping peacefully, but had not eaten breakfast and the father did not know what he was going to feed the toddler for lunch. This was very common, especially if the parent is single. Another client who also had HIV, TB and the beginnings of paralysis was so distraught and brokedown and cried. Why? Her husband blamed her for infecting him and left her alone with 2 young kids. She had given up on life and wanted to be left alone.
During these visits I was also going through a variety of feelings. Feelings of guilt, compassion, empathy, helplessness, anger and gratitude. After having a discussion with Jane and Sister Veronica regarding the immediate issues surrounding this project, they informed me that food and school fees are the major challenges they face at this time. In fact, a loaf of bread can feed a family for the day!
We ended the morning where I interviewed a young woman who had completed Grade 12 and was sitting home doing nothing. I asked her what she wanted and she said she got accepted into a college to study Business, but had to decline because she could not afford to pay the college fees. A 2 year program that would have cost her approximately $2000. She stated she wanted a good future and prove to the residents of Bangla that the cycle can be broken. I asked her if she was HIV positive and surprisingly she was negative when tested late last year. I was impressed - here is a woman who had refused to become like the rest, who had actually completed high school and wanted a good future. How can we help her?
I have decided to donate to agencies such as American Foundation for Children with AIDS (www.helpchildrenwithaids.org) and Pediatric AIDS Canada (http://pediatricaidscanada.org/index.html) and at this time, for every Wealth and Abundance CD I sell, $5 will be donated to to either one of these organization. This CD sells for $20. Look at picture below. Let us help..any other ideas out there!
Topics: Law of Attraction, wealthy mind |
One Response to “Visiting HIV/AIDS Clients in The Largest Slum in Mombasa, Kenya”
Comments
« How July 10 was a day of reflection….. | Home | What is the Wealthy Mind Program/Experience? »
August 11th, 2009 at 5:30 am
Zaheen, I made some home visits with Sister Veronica back in March. It was overwhelming, inspiring and life-changing.
Thank you so much for including us in your response to their great need.
Our partners do so much good with what is sent to them!