UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS

July 1, 2008

10-year-old orphaned girl living alone with HIV

When I came to visit 10-year-old Sindi* at her home recently, I was struck by the dangers this child is facing. The young girl lives all alone in a small house with no lock, while nearby, two similar stick and mud houses have collapsed. Inside, there is nothing except for a small single bed. Besides the dangers that come when a young child is forced to live alone without any supervision, Sindi is exposed to the weather elements, hunger as well as sexual abuse and compliance. She spends most of her time in neighbours’ homes where she sometimes gets food but has to go to her lonely home to sleep. Sindi is a double-orphan. She is also HIV-positive and taking antiretroviral drugs (ARVs).

I visited Sindi after a report by a UNICEF-supported volunteer teacher, Doreen Magagula, who informed UNICEF about the plight of this 10-year-old 5th grader living alone in a village in the Sithobelweni area of Swaziland’s Lubombo region. Magagula said the child had no one to supervise her even though she is very young and on medication. The young Sindi has also developed persistent infections.

I noticed that Sindi was timid and frail. When I spoke to her, she didn’t seem to hear what I said and the volunteer teacher told me that she was half deaf, probably due to the infection. So, we communicated by writing. I wrote questions on a piece of paper for her to read and then she replied on paper as well. Magagula said her impairment has had a negative impact on her ability to learn at school, to participate in various activities and play with other children. Sindi is very quiet and often isolates herself during break time.

I asked Sindi about the whereabouts of her siblings and she said one of her sisters is married. However, she cannot take her in since she herself and her husband are both unemployed, which makes it difficult to cater for another child. Other family members such as brothers and uncles are said to be living in South Africa. They have not visited Sindi’s home in ages nor have they left her with any contact details.

After assessing the vulnerability of the child, and trying to no avail to get in touch with relatives and neighbours who could take care of Sindi, I consulted with the UNICEF Education team. The team recommended that Sindi be removed from her present place of abode and given alternative accommodation as she was extremely vulnerable. She was immediately referred to SOS children’s village in Mbabane where they are currently keeping her pending a bid to find her relatives.

UNICEF advocates for community care givers such as Rural Health Motivators, Child Protectors, relatives and neighbours to support HIV-infected orphans at their homes. However, widespread poverty in Swaziland also impacts negatively on these children as the relatives and communities that are expected to absorb them are also struggling to meet their own basic needs.
 
With more children on ARVS, there is more than ever a glaring need for HIV and care mobile units and for outreach services to help refill drugs for vulnerable children and monitor patients under treatment in their respective communities. This would help ensure that no child skips treatment because they cannot afford to travel to the nearest health care facility on time.

*Name changed to protect the girl’s identity.