Margaret Zania, "Taking care of my HIV+ grandchild has changed my life"
By, IRIN PlusNews, August 1, 2007
Margaret Zania, 60, a petty trader in Bukavu, capital of South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is all that seven-year-old Mwajuma Rajabu has in the world since her parents died of an AIDS-related illness in 2005. Zania's life has been taken over by caring for her grandchild, who is often ill. She told IRIN/PlusNews how her life had changed.
"As a single mother, I was already living with one of my sons when my daughter started getting sick. She and her husband tried to deny the fact that they were suffering from AIDS but it was there for all to see. My daughter was a lay preacher and her husband was a football player. They had two other children before they had this little girl, Mwajuma. I thank God that the other two children do not have the virus.
"My daughter's condition worsened in 2005, and she died in September, with her husband following her soon thereafter.
"Before taking in Mwajuma, I used to sell soap and second-hand clothes at the market, and this could sustain me. But since there was no one else to take care of Mwajuma, I had to stop the small business in order to be there for her. She was always sick: her stomach would swell so much, then she would have diarrhoea and many other ailments that I don't know their names. It was very stressful for me and my son's family.
"I took Mwajuma for testing soon after the deaths of her parents and she tested positive. I was devastated: What do I do now? Will she grow up like other children?
"That is when I sought help from Foundation Femme Plus [a Congolese non-governmental organisation supporting people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS]. Now Mwajuma is on ARVs [antiretrovirals] and her bouts of sickness have decreased. She is now healthy, she plays like other children and I am even looking forward to seeing her go to school.
"Looking back, I know that HIV/AIDS has changed my life: I have learnt to accept the people living with the virus, and I know that with proper care and medication my grandchild will grow up to be healthy and go to school. Who knows, maybe she will be an important person in our community one day.
"Now that Mwajuma is no longer as sickly as she used to be, I wish I could get financial help to enable me resume my petty trade. Look at me - I am 60, and can still try to fend for myself. When she goes to school, I would like to have my life back, the life I had before 2005."
Source:
Margaret Zania, 60, a petty trader in Bukavu, capital of South Kivu Province in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is all that seven-year-old Mwajuma Rajabu has in the world since her parents died of an AIDS-related illness in 2005. Zania's life has been taken over by caring for her grandchild, who is often ill. She told IRIN/PlusNews how her life had changed.
"As a single mother, I was already living with one of my sons when my daughter started getting sick. She and her husband tried to deny the fact that they were suffering from AIDS but it was there for all to see. My daughter was a lay preacher and her husband was a football player. They had two other children before they had this little girl, Mwajuma. I thank God that the other two children do not have the virus.
"My daughter's condition worsened in 2005, and she died in September, with her husband following her soon thereafter.
"Before taking in Mwajuma, I used to sell soap and second-hand clothes at the market, and this could sustain me. But since there was no one else to take care of Mwajuma, I had to stop the small business in order to be there for her. She was always sick: her stomach would swell so much, then she would have diarrhoea and many other ailments that I don't know their names. It was very stressful for me and my son's family.
"I took Mwajuma for testing soon after the deaths of her parents and she tested positive. I was devastated: What do I do now? Will she grow up like other children?
"That is when I sought help from Foundation Femme Plus [a Congolese non-governmental organisation supporting people infected and affected by HIV/AIDS]. Now Mwajuma is on ARVs [antiretrovirals] and her bouts of sickness have decreased. She is now healthy, she plays like other children and I am even looking forward to seeing her go to school.
"Looking back, I know that HIV/AIDS has changed my life: I have learnt to accept the people living with the virus, and I know that with proper care and medication my grandchild will grow up to be healthy and go to school. Who knows, maybe she will be an important person in our community one day.
"Now that Mwajuma is no longer as sickly as she used to be, I wish I could get financial help to enable me resume my petty trade. Look at me - I am 60, and can still try to fend for myself. When she goes to school, I would like to have my life back, the life I had before 2005."
Source:
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 11:16 am
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