Luem spends time helping those infected like him

This is Luem Laom. He was one of the first of 275 in his village in Cambodia to be diagnosed with HIV. That was in December last year. 

 

Out of his immediate 8 family members, 4 of also tested positive with the virus. Luem now helps out as a volunteer offering support and counseling to other affected families.

According to the Cambodian authorities, an unlicensed doctor who re-used syringes and other medical equipment was responsible for spreading the infection to unsuspecting victims. 

Catholic Mission is committed in providing support of these victims of HIV through supporting its local partner, the Apostolic Prefecture of Battambang, provide Emergency support services. To ensure this project can continue to provide those people affected with AIDS and other chronic diseases in village of Roka and their families, with different tools to help overcome the difficulties they face, we are looking to raise $45,000.

If you can support this cause, click on the link below and go through the various fields. At the bottom of the page, where it has a box for you to give a bit more information, please mention this post and indicate your contribution is for the village in Cambodia. Tell them 'David in Brisbane sent us'. And thanks, on behalf of those inadvertently affected by this awful disease. 

https://www.catholicmission.org.au/donate

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Huen's hospital visits are taking a toll

Huen is the wife of the Chief of Roka village. As Chief, her husband combines this responsibility with being a farmer in order to provide their family with sufficient income. Huen is the mother to four children, each of which have been diagnosed with HIV, including herself.

In February, they joined the powder milk program of the Catholic Church’s Health Centre which provides powdered milk to mothers with infant babies and monitors there nutrition and weight.

Huen family is now struggling to survive as she has had to stop working. Every month, she must travel to and from the Provincial Hospital 15 km away is to receive monthly medication for herself and her four children. If they eventually get sick, they will have no support for any sort of transportation to the hospital.  

Huen’s main priority right now is to assure a clean house and access to clean water and food on a daily basis for her family.

If you can support this cause, click on the link below and go through the various fields. At the bottom of the page, where it has a box for you to give a bit more information, please mention this post and indicate your contribution is for the village in Cambodia. Tell them 'David in Brisbane sent us'. And thanks, on behalf of those inadvertently affected by this awful disease. 

https://www.catholicmission.org.au/donate

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Despite 'love and care', doctor still spreads HIV among villagers

 The focus for today's post is on Kuu Mau (pictured above). He is the head of his family. Like many of the other people in his village, he also has contracted HIV. As a HIV sufferer himself, what saddens him most is having to witness his 15 year old granddaughter also being diagnosed with the virus.Their home was scarce meters away from the house of the unlicensed doctor who allegedly brought the virus to the Commune. 

Mau knew this doctor personally for many years, so he was especially surprised to hear that he could be the reason for this tragedy. In his own words, the unlicensed doctor “always treated his patients with love and care”. 

Mau’s granddaughter Kaeu Nita (pictured below) is currently living in a shelter home run by the Catholic Church in Battambang, where her welfare is guaranteed as she continues to focus on her studies.

If you can support this cause, click on the link below and go through the various fields. At the bottom of the page, where it has a box for you to give a bit more information, please mention this post and indicate your contribution is for the village in Cambodia. Tell them 'David in Brisbane sent us'. And thanks, on behalf of those inadvertently affected by this awful disease.

https://www.catholicmission.org.au/donate

 

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Unwitting HIV victims need our help

This is being written on a morning when the world watches in horror as Nepal, a place of mountain ranges and mystery, is rocked by the after-effects of a devastating earthquake. I am writing this blog entry, mindful that there are many calls on the hearts and hip-pockets of people, like you the reader, to give. However, I want to draw your attention this week to a country in the same region, but slightly to the south. 

This week, I would like to introduce you to a number of people from a small village in Cambodia. They won't make headlines but they need our help, as badly as the families affected by the natural disaster in Nepal. They won't have people advocating for them, like the pair waiting to be shot in Bali, but they have each been unwittingly afflicted with a disease that could, potentially, be a death sentence.This is their story.  

Monday, April 27 - In the beginning of November 2014, Laom (pictured) started preparing his rice fields for planting. After a few days of working long hours in the fields, he felt weaker than usual and decided to visit a private clinic in the city for a check-up. The doctor took some blood samples and Laom was diagnosed with HIV. His initial reaction was one of denial, defending that he had never behaved in an inappropriate way and could not understand how this was possible.

He was so ashamed of this diagnosis that he could not face telling his family and instead went to speak with the village Chief and later to consult with the head oaf the village health centre. They both advised him to seek a second opinion on the diagnosis in the Provincial Hospital. The second blood test came back positive again and after receiving this news, he went home and told his family. They supported him from the outset and it was decided to that all of his family members should take precautionary blood tests themselves; Out of his immediate eight family members, four have also tested positive with the virus.

If you can support this cause, click on the link below and go through the various fields. At the bottom of the page, where it has a box for you to give a bit more information, please mention this post and indicate your contribution is for the village in Cambodia. Tell them 'David in Brisbane sent us'. And thanks, on behalf of those inadvertently affected by this awful disease.

https://www.catholicmission.org.au/donate

Read more...