|
|
|
'In the hospital where I work between 60 and 80% of the patients have AIDS and will die,' says Dr Moreen Gordon [ Moreen with an 'o'] who has just returned from 5 years working as a medical doctor at St Luke's Hospital, Malosa, in the central African state of Malawi. 'In the anti-natal clinic 30% of young mothers have HIV and 25% of their babies will be born with HIV.'
These are the alarming statistics that will be presented to members of the Presbyterian Women's Association (PWA), around 3,000 of whom will be gathering in Belfast tomorrow, Thursday 10 May, 2.30 and 7.30pm, Church House, as they hear how Presbyterian overseas staff including Moreen Gordon are helping Malawians cope with AIDS and HIV.
'Of the 36 million HIV positive people in the world, 90% live in Africa and Malawi is one of the worst affected countries,' argues Dr Gordon. 'When someone is first affected they do not immediately feel ill and it may be some years before AIDS fully develops. Sometimes it is possible to treat the illness for a while but eventually death comes.'
Adults who die of AIDS are usually between 20 and 35, men and women, fathers and mothers. Malawian culture prefers that orphan children should be cared for within their own community but the large numbers are putting a huge burden particularly on grandparents who may have to cope with orphans from several families.
The Malawian government and the local churches are searching for a way forward but the problem is too big for them to tackle on their own.
Dr Gordon has been involved with two orphan groups. 'The difficulty is that the numbers needing cared for continues to rise while the financial and other resources are very limited. The orphan groups provide money to buy food, secondhand clothes and blankets as well as teaching teenagers a trade so that they can earn for themselves. Another import aspect is education about AIDS and how it is transmitted. We can only hope and pray that the next generation will live.'
The PWA is an organisation for Presbyterian women with about 15,000 members throughout Ireland and it will be financially supporting local churches and orphan groups in Malawi during the coming year.
Last month there was concern that this years PWA annual meeting would be cancelled due to the foot and mouth epidemic. However following Ministry of Agriculture guidelines and in consultation with some of the rural PWA branches it was decided that the event could take place.
Issued by Stephen Lynas, Presbyterian Information Services. Info@PresbyterianIreland.org
PCI Home . . . Press Office . . . News Archive