AIDS orphans under grandparents' care

Orphaned by AIDS, over 250 AIDS-afflicted children of 14 VDCs of Doti district have been staying with their grandparents.These grandparents, who should have been resting their tired bones in the twilight of their lives, have to get up early, groom the children, cook for them and do their laundry also. I have to look after my grandchildren, as their parents have died of AIDS, said Manmaya.She added that it would be a great relief if someone helped her financially for the grandchildrens education.Grandparents tu-rned up with AIDS-afflicted children at a mobile camp organised recently in Doti recently by the Family Health International.

Orphaned by AIDS, over 250 AIDS-afflicted children of 14 VDCs of Doti district have been staying with their grandparents.These grandparents, who should have been resting their tired bones in the twilight of their lives, have to get up early, groom the children, cook for them and do their laundry also. ... ...BK, 70, and Manmaya Saud, 76, of Sanagaun VDC are just two of the scores of long-suffering grand-dames looking after their children’s children. “What to do? I have to look after my grandchildren, as their parents have died of AIDS,” said Manmaya.She added that it would be a great relief if someone helped her financially for the grandchildren’s education.Grandparents tu-rned up with AIDS-afflicted children at a mobile camp organised recently in Doti recently by the Family Health International. Regional head of the National HIV/AIDS Federation Shibu Giri said most of the AIDS-afflicted children had lost their parents to the dreaded disease and were in the care of their grandparents.Giri said 19 children were found to be suffering from AIDS when blood test was conducted. Blood samples were taken from the AIDS-afflicted children for providing them CD4 service, he added.Record maintained at the district administration office shows that more than 400 persons in Doti are AIDS-afflicted. The record was compiled by Samaj Sewa Doti and Save the Children Norway some months ago. The study pointed out there are over 250 AIDS-afflicted children in 14 of the 50 VDCs and one municipality of Doti. Samaj Sewa chairman Amir Kumar Rana said the number of diseased children could well turn out to be over 1,000 if data were collected from all 50 VDCs and the municipality of Doti.

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