Halfani's Story

Halfani is a little boy who was born with HIV. Both of his parents died from AIDS and he now lives under the care of his grandmother (his mother’s mother). He is 6 years old and bright and charismatic with a beautiful smile. The grandmother is old and sick, it is hard for her to work. At her age after years of hard labor traditionally she would be taken care of by her children but all her children have died. Halfani, her one grandchild, is now in her care so she works hard and raises him on her own.

The house they live in is a very hard living situation. It is one room barely big enough for a twin size bed. A dirty mosquito net ridden with holes hangs above the bed and cooking pots line one of the walls. Outside there is a porch which serves as a makeshift living room, one torn up couch and a chair that’s only remnants are the frame and springs line the wall. The grandmother has only scraps of congas so she is often pulling them up to cover her chest.

We have brought the grandmother a mosquito net and we are going to help her clean this one. Additionally, we are going to bring her shirts so she will be covered and then can wear the congas as skirts. The boy we bring him little things like food – he gets additional care from a center in town, and he goes to primary school. Mostly Charles checks to make sure the grandmother is remembering to give the boy his medication. She forgets many times, and this is not good because if medication is not consistent it’s not effective.

Halfani is a sweet boy and proof to me that with the right care, HIV does not have to be a death sentence. He is living a life where he goes to school and can have a future. All people with HIV should be living lives of dignity and meaning.

Picture: Halfani at the entrance to his house