A Family Overcoming HIV/AIDS

By Connor Sorrel

In 2001 486,000 children aged between 0 and 14 had been orphaned because of HIV/AIDS. About 785,000 adults and 65,000 children are living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi. AIDS is a disease that attacks white blood cells and eventually kills all of them making your body  defenceless against other diseases.

A week ago I visited a place in Malawi called Nthondo, where HIV/Aids has caused a lot of problems. The Nthondo community is working hard to overcome this dilemma. I visited a family that has been affected by this disease. Benson and Benwell are twin brothers that live with their mum Margaret and their older brother. They have three brothers and four sisters, but all of their younger brothers and sisters live with someone else because their father died 18 mouths ago.  When Benson and Benwell were twelve their mother couldn’t look after all the children by herself.

Benson and Benwell look after themselves, they have to cook for themselves, grow crops such as maize and look after their live stock.

“Previously he (our father) was our guide our leader” Benwell remembers “But now we have to do these things on our own.”

The Nthondo community is doing a lot to support people affected by HIV/AIDS. There are support groups that go around helping people with HIV/AIDS. The strange thing is that most of the people in the support groups have tested HIV positive. They have made schools for HIV/AIDS orphans to go to and learn to play and to make friends.

Changes are starting to happen. In 2003 Malawi signed an agreement with global fund to receive US $196 million over the next five years. World Bank also approved US $35 million assistance over the next four years. World Vision is also giving money to families like Benson and Benwell who have been affected by HIV/Aids. So by doing the 40 hour Famine you are helping families like this one.

Benson and Benwell live with their mother Margaret, who is a widow.