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About the AIDS Orphans of Swaziland in Africa

By: Thando Mavimbela

It is difficult to grow up as an orphan of AIDS in a least developed country like Swaziland, I mean with no one to look after you especially when all you need is care in a country that in its self is having a hard time in dealing with the rate of poverty. In this article I will make an attempt to discuss the situation as it currently stands. I encourage you to read the article right to the end.

If projections are anything to go by the number of AIDS orphans in Swaziland increases at an alarming rate every year. Often these kids are left with no father or mother; there are, however so very few cases where you can find one sickly parent still alive. The condition is unbearable in bigger families because there is only one father to many children so when the father, who is usually the sole breadwinner, dies the children are left without the necessary care and healthy food to eat.

The worst part is that, the mothers also become victims of the deadly virus. Death engulfs the mothers one after the other they pass on and the children are left to take care of themselves with no adult support or supervision. Relatives do try to assist at times but in most cases are unable to due to the large number of children to look after. As a result the children end up heading the household.

Just before the parents die the AIDS orphans actually become the parents to the parents i.e. the eldest has to take care of them including the younger siblings. In most instances the child is left drained because of the many chores such as cooking for the parents - because they cannot take their medication without food in their stomachs.

To make the situation worse, this child who becomes a caretaker often lack some experience on how to take care of HIV infected people and thus becomes vulnerable to being infected with the HIV virus.

While trying to get to grips with being parent, student and everything else, time passes on for the orphans of AIDS to grow and enjoy life like any normal child. I mean, before heading off to school, for those that do get the opportunity to go to school, they have to do what parents normally do when sending off their kids to school. I mean, wake the other younger sisters and brothers, bath them, get them something to eat - if by chance there is food in the house and then send them off to school.

In most instances these orphans have to walk long distances on barefoot just to get to school often hungry. Imagine what they go through in winter without much clothes and proper school uniform and even summer under the boiling African sun.

There is no doubt that AIDS orphans in Swaziland need as much assistance from people within the country and even outside the country. I have seen how some of these little ones have managed to defy all odds and made a good life for themselves. I know someone who grew up under these terrible conditions but has managed to make it in life. It took only one kind person who saw beyond his disadvantages and realized what a great person that orphan of AIDS could be.

Article Source: http://free-article-depot.com

This site, www.youngheroes.org.sz/index_home.asp has more real life information about starving children in Swaziland Africa in Africa.

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