Beatrice cares for two of her late sister’s daughters (far left) as well as her own children.

James lives with his maternal grandmother on a small farm with rocky soil.

Josphat attends a Diocesan primary school. He lives with his maternal grandparents and several of his siblings. He wants to be a doctor.

The thoughts of His Heart are to all generations, to preserve them from death and feed them in time 

In face of the AIDS crisis in today’s world these words have new meaning for me as a religious of the Sacred Heart. This disease kills. It has no cure. “To preserve them from death” is at the heart of every Education For Life Workshop. Can these young people, old people, middle aged people listen deeply and make profound choices in relation to attitude and behaviour? We know some participants are orphans, some are infected (known or not), some have loved ones at home very sick and all are affected. For the infected the choice is to live positively and not spread the disease, supporting one another. For the affected it is not to stigmatize, to offer hope to the infected. In the end one must reflect, the real death is the death of the spirit. Many HIV positive people knowing they are infected, are freer and happier in their lives now than those not knowing their HIV status. Yet some fear to read that his or her test is positive because of stigma. It is a worse death.

In Eldoret, Kenya, we have access to a comprehensive programme called AMPATH (Academic Model For Prevention and Treatment of HIV). It is heavily funded and offers free anti-retrovirals for all those whose CD4 count (measure of immune system) has dropped too low for protection against opportunistic infections. It is involved in research. At a meeting recently of various priests and Parish AIDS Committee members and health unit nurses and community health workers and catechists it was stated: Anti-retrovirals are causing this disease to spread more now. Why? Those who were once at death’s door revive to point of looking quite healthy, and then wish ‘to be like everybody else’. More babies are being born to HIV positive mothers and it has challenged the effectiveness of Nivirapine to prevent transmission. More babies are turning positive. In addition a few of those testing negative at 2 yrs are turning positive about 4 years of age. Research continues as do vaccine trials. One is reminded we are using polio vaccine for over fifty years now and still there are a few cases of the polio virus in our world. What of Human Immunodeficiency Virus that is classified as a sexually Transmitted Disease because at least 85% of it is transmitted through sexual intercourse? All of us must learn how to live with this disease. We are all challenged by it.

It becomes more and more evident that AIDS needs to be addressed as a pastoral issue. What does our spirituality offer to those suffering because of HIV and AIDS? I believe each RSCJ is called to keep informed of the disease, how it is spread and prevented, the latest research, how to teach about the disease, how to show compassion in face of stigma. We draw from the Heart of Christ the strength and wisdom and love for this. It is the food needed in face of this famine caused by AIDS. It is true that protein food is also needed – for orphans and vulnerable children so they can grow properly and concentrate in school, for those on anti-retrovirals so they have strength to live the day in front of them. Yet protein without love does not foster quality of life. 

We have met those who cheat to get uniforms and even those involved in child-trafficking. Those living with AIDS and those without AIDS are all called to choose Life.  I have been blessed to know His Love among people living with HIV and AIDS, and hopefully to have made His Love known.

Helen O’Regan rscj
Province of Uganda-Kenya

 

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Update from Helen O'Regan rscj, March 17 2008

It is moving to see these pictures now and realize what has happened since then. St. Patrick's Primary school is closed as Internally Displaced Peoples (IDPs) are still camping in the Church and school ground - not wanting to move to the large IDP camp across the road. James is now living in the showground in Eldoret with his grandmother and brother. Their house was burnt down. He attends the school in the camp. They and others have come to ask for shoes, sufurias (cooking pots), blankets (rationed in the camp), soap, and firewood. To have food and not to be able to cook on one's own means sharing cooking fire and pot with one who has.

We pray for deepening peace at grassroots with all that means of reconciliation with neighbors. It will take time. People are afraid to go back to plant….

Georgie, Peter and Sabina live with their maternal grandmother on someone else’s land. They are doing quite well in primary school.	Helen O’Regan rscj at a workshop of the “Education for Life” program.
Lilian (left) stayed for a while with her maternal aunt, Pauline (right) so as to attend St. Patrick’s Primary School. When Pauline died last year Lilian had to return to her aging maternal grandmother and walks 5 km. to school.	Sheiller attends St. Patrick’s Catholic Academy (Diocesan) in Burnt Forest where we try to follow up 8 orphans.