AIDS SOS for Kenya’s Kids
by Michèle Nardelli
For
more than 1.2 million people in Kenya HIV/AIDS is a life sentence. For
millions more, including Kenya’s 650,000 “AIDS orphans”, the
implications of this disease are life long. It is their plight and the
enormity of the AIDS epidemic that has drawn UniSA medical radiations
graduate, Belinda Evans, to do more than send a few dollars to the
cause.
“It has touched me in a way that makes me want to know and do more,” Evans said.
Next month she will take leave from her job in the radiation oncology department at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and head to Kenya for a three-month stay to deliver education and counselling in schools and orphanages. The trip will be undertaken through New Zealand aid agency, Global Volunteer Network, but at this stage, entirely at her own expense.
“I think the hundreds of thousands of AIDS orphans are a particular tragedy – they have lost so much from this disease, their whole family and often their own health.”
Surrounded by African nations in turmoil, Kenya plays host to more than 250,000 refugees from Somalia, Sudan and Uganda. Relatively stable, it is nonetheless a poor nation. Only 20 per cent of the population complete their education. Life expectancy sits at about 48 years and almost seven per cent of the population has HIV/AIDS. In Africa only 15 per cent of those with the disease have access to treatment.
Evans believes the work will be challenging but ultimately rewarding.
“I think anyone who volunteers will tell you that once you get involved you find you get much more back than you could have imagined,” she said.
“I have volunteered at a nursing home for the past four years and I suppose I have some learned sense of service from this. I also really love my work in radiation therapy and find there is so much more to it than the technical side of the work. With counselling and care it is always about the people – and I love that.”
At 23 years old, she believes the trip will give her a new perspective on the worldwide AIDS problem and what part she might play in the solution.
The estimated cost of Evans’ trip is close to $8000. Evans has organised a movie night as a part of her fundraising activities to be held on Thursday February 23 at the Capri Theatre in Goodwood. The movie showing will be ‘Walk the Line’ at 8:30pm and tickets are $12. Any readers wanting to contribute to her expenses or purchase a ticket for this fundraising night can contact Belinda at write_to_belinda@hotmail.com for further information. More information about this volunteer program is available at www.volunteer.org.nz/kenya