The Documentry:
What it's all about.

A group from Ireland, were making a doc for Tv at home, highlighting the strife of children around the world. The focus in Uganda was HIV and the child heading a house hold. I was keen to be involved, to do anything I can to assist and highlight the circumstances in which these brave little children are coping, often alone, as it is common place for the entire family to have been wiped out by HIv/AIDS. As a medical doctor, the issues I have noted are overwhelming. You cannot treat HIV in isolation, nutrition, sanitation, security, caregivers, family unit, school fees, crowded living conditions and the harsh reality of life and death here, impact hugely on these children health.

I am seeing countless orphans cared for by aging grandparents, often unable to provide an adequate diet. In many cases here in Uganda the children are absorbed by the greater family, there is a sense of family but sadly in certain circumstances that family are no longer around as HIV has affected many here. An entire generation of parents are absent. In such cases it is the orphans themselves who head the house holds. At such a young age they alone must cope with dealing with their status. There is no social services or social work as we would have at home to link with these children, and these social issues have a huge impact on their wellbeing and health. Aid agencies and NGO are overwhelmed with the numbers. The practicalities of daily living for an orphaned child here are harsh. Water must be collected and carried in heavy gerry cans, a difficulty for pos children if they are weak.It must be boiled to decontaminate it, kill the worms and pathogens therein. Cooking here, collecting local produce from the market is heavy work in the hot sun and many don’t have the means to shop in the first place. Crowded conditions, poor sanitation and frequency of TB leave these children very vunerable to infection. But the psychological impact of heading a house hold at such a young age, these children astound me.

To highlight the struggle of so many here, we focused on one of my special patients, Evelyn, with her permission. This is her story:

Evelyns was orphaned at the age of eleven, with no source of income she has to rely on the kindness of the community or those she meets for food. From day to day she is unsure as to whether that kindness will arrive. Extremely ill on initaly presentation she cared for her younger sibling and older brother while fightening for her life herself, with no one to come home to, to hug and cuddle her and tell her it will be ok. In her case she has found solice, a sense of safety and security in the church which compensates for that of which a family would otherwise provide. Giving her a sense of belonging. And hope for her future. School provides a great stability in her life, familiar adult figures in the teachers, whom rallied around when she was sick to pay her hospital bills. In Uganda if you don’t have the money for medicines they are not admistered. Again she has to rely on the charity of thoe she meets to assist her with her life, with life itself. Throughout this time Evelyn has managed to remain a straight A’s student and has completed a docturite in theology of which she is immensely proud. School fees are a huge issue here and for some one with no income another huge burden, but to take school from this child would be to take her life away. Living alone in the slums now age 16, no electricity pitch black at night often with no money or food, if she falls ill, she may not have transport to present to a clinic. The dangers or the slums and the vunerability of such a young girl are frightening.There is no phone or means of calling upon someone. If there was she has no one on whom to call. She is often afraid. Now even the secutiry of the slum is in jeopardy and she may have no where to go, as the city want to regenerate certain areas and are evicting the inhabitants of the slum. These are issues she faces alone, with no adult figure in her life to lend advice and share the burden of living in such circumstances with her.
She has managed since she was eleven to support her siblings, to take her medicines and to come to the clinic with no adult figure to ensure she keeps her appointments. Its astounding and Im so proud of her.

My role: In her case, I was so touched by her story. When you meet this girl, she is so gentle so humble. She doesnt ask and it was someone else who highlighted her situation to me.
The fund has assisted her: Since my arrival she has required some medication which was supplied without charge to her. The doc team have assisted her financially, clearing her school fees debt ( in her case as she is so bright the school allowed her to stay, but with debt accumulating, usually this does not happen, no fees no school), and linking her to a lawyer to represent her case to the city council. That is now in progress and she is going to be secure in her lodgings in the future, of which I am keeping a close eye on the developments.

We entered the slum where she lives, a troop of white people with camera's. Its a cruel and hostile enviroment and my worry was that in our absence Evelyn would encounter problems from her neighbours who equally have nothing, and as survival dictates, pounce on every opportunity to make a buck. A vunerable 16 year old who has had mezungus around will have money or so the thought is. So I engaged the community and I did many house visits and assisted some very sick people in some very dire need of medication and treatment. As a result I am welcomed to the slum, and Evelyn is the link. She informs me now if others fall in and need assistance and I visit and do that. These people are poor so transport to a clinic is just not feasible, so to have someone come to their home is a service they greatly appreciate.

My Mum had sent some mobile phones, kindly donated by Peter and helena in Caple Street and Evelyn was presented with this. she charges it at the clinic and keeps it off but can contact me if she is in any need. This has given her a great sence of security.

Again from Evelyn and from me and from all the children, a huge thank you. Thank you or Webale Neu in Luganda, neu neu neu. Very very much.