Perhaps you know one. Perhaps you are one.
There are 14,000 Belizean children affected by HIV/AIDS, according to local estimates by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Some have the virus; others have parents or guardians infected. Most have no one to help them.
That is where Cornerstone Foundation of San Ignacio, Cayo District, steps in.
Cornerstone Foundation, established 4 years ago, works with children of all kinds, but most particularly children affected by the worst virus in the world.
Today, they came to the media capital, Belize City, to make a plea for all Belizeans to assist in whatever way they can, to its drive to collect food, clothing and other basic supplies to assist children affected by HIV/AIDS.
For the record, you can only get AIDS having first acquired HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), the virus that causes it, whether by intercourse and exchange of bodily fluids, or from mother to child at birth, or through infected blood donations.
But according to the speakers at today’s launch of the 2008-09 Caring For Children Campaign at the Conference Room of the Church of Jesus Christ (Latter-Day Saints) on Cemetery Road, that’s not the only way you can suffer. Children who live with a parent or guardian who has HIV or have HIV themselves are often teased by their fellows, shunned by society and even occasionally denied equal access to critical services such as education and health.
With World AIDS Day (December 1) looming, Cornerstone took its message of help to the children of Belize City – represented by the students of St. Mary’s Primary, Holy redeemer, Queen Street Baptist and Sadie Vernon High who attended today’s launch.
Project consultant for Cornerstone, Omar Rodriguez, pleaded with the children to pass along the message to their parents and contribute as much as they can.
According to Cornerstone’s General Manager, Rita Defour, it will be greatly appreciated.
Defour told us: “Anyone can be affected. We need for people to be compassionate and remember that children are especially vulnerable to the effects of living with this disease.”
Nurse Margaret Bradley, Coordinator of the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Program, narrated cases she has seen of children suspected to have HIV being discriminated against by the very people who are supposed to help them, to the point of some HIV+ parents allegedly even denying treatment to their infected children.
Nurse Bradley reminded the children that they could change that by getting involved and telling the truth about how HIV is spread.
Chief of Staff for the Northern Regional Hospital, Dr. Jair Osorio, shared his experience working with HIV+ patients in Orange Walk, and said Belize’s current attitude to HIV+ individuals resulted from a lack of understanding.
The drive will last 10 days, from December 1 to 10 inclusive, and donations are being accepted at local churches, schools and even business houses. After December 10, the donations will be collected and distributed.
For more information on Caring For Children, contact Cornerstone in San Ignacio at 678-9909.