Help Support Children in Makindu Living with HIV

2021 proved to be a difficult year regarding the health of individuals across the world. COVID-19 has maintained a strong grasp on social endeavors and the individual health of so many people. But HIV has also been a large factor in the lives of all of the children in Makindu. All children in the care of Makindu Children's Center are affected and/or infected with HIV. This might mean the guardian is infected or cousins and siblings that live in the household are infected. It might mean that the child's parent(s) died of AIDS, or that the child is infected and living with HIV. In 2021, 69 children received comprehensive coordinated HIV treatment and care. This is crucial for their health management. Our trained social workers provide support and care at the Center and at home visits. As often as possible, fresh produce from the garden or "shamba" complements the meals from the Center - this is often eggplant, kale and/or tomatoes. Currently the mangos are ripe and ready and a juicy delight for the children. The beloved cow Thelma Mae continues to provide more than enough milk for all kids and guardians who visit the Center. Her baby cow Winnie is growing strong and will one day also provide milk for the children. Excess milk is often sent home with kids who live near the center. Much milk is also sold to the local community to help offset costs. These vulnerable immuno-compromised children receive extra of these resources that help them continue to thrive every day. Maintaining this level of support and effort for the children is what keeps them safe, happy, and as healthy as possible during these uncertain times we live in. 

Makindu Children's Program currently serves 46 kids with HIV and 67 guardians with HIV. Keeping them healthy and hopeful is a top priority. During this pandemic it has become apparent how extremely important sanitation and water is to help us reach that goal. Miraculously, even with their diminished immune system, no HIV child or guardian has fallen ill with COVID-19. We believe this is largely due to the water we now have access to due to the successful drilling of our borehole a few years ago. With the unlimited water the borehole provides to the Center, we have installed 5-spigot handwashing stations at the Center. Along with educational outreach on proper hygiene behaviors, sanitation amongst the children and throughout the campus has dramatically improved.

Further, those that live within walking distance from the Children's Center can carry home water home for cooking and cleaning. This allows them to replenish their water jugs at the tippy-tap stations installed at each household, and practice safe hygiene and sanitation at home. 

Finally, the successful borehole has also meant plentiful irrigation for our farm plot at the Children's Center. With this reliable irrigation, we have plenty of papaya, mango, tomatoes, chilis, kale and other vegetables to send home with the HIV kids to their families to help boost their immune systems with nutrient-rich produce.

Water is life, and so very important to the immuno-compromised. Thankfully, donors like you have provided unlimited water, through the successful borehole drilling, to all our families, including the HIV positive. With this water, food and proper sanitation are possible and realized every day. We will continue to utlilize the water to best serve all the children and their families, especially those most vulnerable.