Solitude of an AIDS orphan

Source:Global Times Published: 2010-11-9 18:09:00


AIDS orphan A Long plays with his only friend – a dog named Lao Hei.

What did you do at the age of six? A Long does not have much choice. This six-year-old has to prepare his own meals, wash his clothes, feed poultry – he basically has to do everything by himself.

A Long is a so called "AIDS orphan" as his parents died of AIDS – and he is also HIV-positive. He lives in Niucheping village, Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

A Long's parents built a brick house on a mountain and lived there until they died one after the other. Since then he lives alone.

Many local people often help, bringing him food, clothes and quilts.

His grandmother, who lives with his uncle, often brings him fresh vegetables and cooks for him.

When asked whether she could look after her grandson, the 84-year-old woman hesitated and said she fears living here.

"Could A long live with his uncle?" a reporter inquires.

She remains silent.

Since his parents died, some people want to adopt the boy. But when a test revealed that he is HIV-positive, they changed their mind.

The boy has no idea what AIDS is – he only knows that his friends no longer play with him, his school refuses to let him attend, doctors do not dare handle any small injuries – and even his grandmother refuses to live with him.

 


A Long's home.

But A Long apparently finds comfort in his best friend, Lao Hei – the dog that has been with him for as long as he can remember.

He doesn't have any friends except a girl surnamed Liang who now seldom comes to play with him.

Liang told a reporter that it is her parents who forbid her to come, because they don't want "anything to happen" to her.

"My former classmates don't want to have fun with me and I don't want to go out either," he said.

The local village committee applied for a minimum living allowance for him. But 70 yuan ($10.99) per month – even together with other donations he receives – is far from enough. Luckily, he will receive 100 yuan ($14.99) per month from the start of the next year

An official at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of Liuzhou city said that they can offer free medicine to A Long for his treatment – but that they can't do anything else.

Chen Xiyou, the head of A Long's former primary school, said that he faces a lot of pressure to allow the boy to attend classes.

A Long's grandmother tried to take him to school in September, but parents of the other pupils jointly signed a letter protesting the boy's admission.

Chen ended up bowing to the pressure.

An official with an organization that cares for AIDS orphans in Nanning, capital city of Guangxi, said that they could find a foster home for him, but that would not be in his best interests.

"If he has relatives, I hope they can take care of him. After all, the warmth and care given by family members is impossible to replace."

 


The six-year–old boy makes a fire and cooks for himself every day.

 


A Long prepares his own bath.

 


A Long spends night time reading a kindergarten textbook.

 


A Long's grandmother receives basic living allowance to look after him. Starting this month, he will be eligible for 70 yuan (S10.49) in government assistance and, from next year, the sum will reach 100 yuan ($14.99).

 


6-year-old HIV positive boy A Long plays with his dog in front of a run-down shelter in a village in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Thousands of people have offered to donate money to help A long after media reports said he had been living by himself for over a year since both his parents died of AIDS. Photo: IC

 


6-year-old HIV positive boy A Long plays with his dog in front of a run-down shelter in a village in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Thousands of people have offered to donate money to help A long after media reports said he had been living by himself for over a year since both his parents died of AIDS. Photo: IC



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