Health

Psychosocial

A man's spirit can sustain his broken body, but when spirit dies, what hope is left?

~Proverb~

How would you tell a 9 year old girl, who has watched both of her parents die from HIV/AIDS that she too is HIV positive? How can you explain to her that she will live on medication for the rest of her life until a cure is found? How would you answer her question "Why did this happen to me?" How do you support her when she returns from school crying because the boys have told her that no boy will evermarry her because she is 'sick'? And how would you affirm her beauty and value when her skin develops severe rash and blisters as a result of the drugs she is taking?

At Cherish Uganda we believe tthat the greatest strength a child possesses is found in the measure of hope that resides in the heart. With hope in the heart, health is attainable. Therefore, child counseling, art therapy and intimate family times are created to understand the unique pain and brokenness of each child. We aim to create an environment for healing to unfold and hope to be restored.

When children come to live at Akaloosa Village, our team acertain the level of understanding each child has about HIV/AIDS and the knowledge of their personal HIV status. All of our children are have had their status disclosed to them in an age appropriate way, in order to eliminate secrecy around their status. We use a language of hope and life when we talk with them about their status in order to build confidence in them about who they are and the futures they have. As each child believes the truth, wholeness and healing take place within. This is the heartbeat of health that has proved most effective in bringing health to the whole child, body, soul and mind.