No relief for rural AIDS orphans

Jan 21, 2002

SIR— I have taken my pen to write in response to the feature in The New Vision of January 7 page 30 under the title: “Rural AIDS orphans abandoned” by Damali T. Nyanzi.

SIR— I have taken my pen to write in response to the feature in The New Vision of January 7 page 30 under the title: “Rural AIDS orphans abandoned” by Damali T. Nyanzi.I agree that many remote rural areas are neglected leading tot he aweful condition described in the article. Uganda has many NGOs and government units doing commendable AIDS care and relief work. However, they seem confined to urban areas and more accessible rural areas.I ask the following questions:-lWhere are the extended family and relatives?- Where are the neighbours? If they too are probably poor, could they not report the situation to the appropriate authority?- Where are the church people, the local chiefs, the local councils, the social workers, etc? Or is that area totally abandoned and small hungry orphans left to themselves?- Is there no health centre of any sort in that area? Should the Ministry of Health concentrate on abandoned rural areas rather than deploying so much personnel in urban areas?I hope by now positive action has been taken regarding these children, and that the journalist reported to the authorities. If there is no action already, then this is a national disgrace. Does any help reach the rural abandoned areas? John Bosco MulenziMasaka

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});