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Aids epidemic and
their effects To make sense of the questionable behaviour I saw among villagers in Budalangi, I talked with Philomena about the effects of the Aids epidemic and flooding in this area. Therefore I wrote the following, mainly to inform the people in my home country, The Netherlands. In the years 1992/3 and onwards, millions of people died as a result of Aids, mostly the breadwinners and the young. The effect of this is that only the small children and the elderly are left. In Budalangi though nobody talks about AIDS: to them, it simply doesn't exist. People die because of a curse that someone has put on them. This is also what the orphans think killed their parents; it must be a frightening thought. It also doesn't give much hope for the future when the orphans have unprotected sex, not being aware of the HIV virus. I still haven't figured out who to blame for this disgrace and foolishness. Is it the Pope who forbids the use of condoms, the cultural leaders who misuse beliefs in ancestors or the Pastor who says it's God's punishment? Then again blame is not the issue, the solution on my part is to support TEMAK in their goal to eradicate poverty and give the people skills to help themselves. It is unbelievable how people misuse other people's desperation. It seems that they only take care of their own family without extending the same to their neighbours who have lost all family members to Aids. According to Philomena this is caused by years of long struggle against poverty and hunger amidst grieving the loss off relatives. Everybody is just for themselves and 'love thy neighbour' is becoming a low priority, disappearing over the years. In Budalangi comes the annual flooding on top off the AIDS epidemic. This brings many water borne diseases, which attacks the already weakened immune system. Flooding means the loss of crops, creating hunger. Philomena showed me the food shelters that used to be full around 15 years ago, now they've been empty for years. People have become helpless and don't know about specific fast growing crops that can be harvested before the next floods hit. Relief aid is very temporary and often without any rationale. For example I saw massive concrete water drain pipes laid on top of the road with sand being thrown over it. It serves no use and is damaging to the cars that have to take this hurdle. Our driver showed me many different plants and trees with medicinal powers that the local people have no knowledge of. Setting a good example and
providing useful information are the only things that can save these people
out of their desperate situation. I think the TEMAK is doing just that
and hopefully it will inspire the locals to take over. Contact details of TEMAK are listed below. Account details are as: Teenage Mothers and
Girls Association of Kenya |
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TEENAGE MOTHERS
& GIRLS ASSOCIATION OF KENYA
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