 AIDS in Africa is a holocaust. The statistics are overwhelming, almost incomprehensible:
- An estimated 7 million children are orphaned every day.
- There are an estimated 1.7 million orphaned children in Kenya.
- 650,000 of these orphans are due to AIDS.
- 600,000 children are living in the streets.
- 60,000 of these are living in Nairobi.
- 1 million children are living with HIV.
- By 2010 there will be 1.9 million orphans in Kenya.
Kenya, which has the 9th highest HIV rate in the world, is one of the hardest hit countries in Africa. According to conservative estimates, more that 20% of the population (2.1 million) are HIV positive. Between 80% and 90% of hospital admittees suffer from AIDS related illnesses. UNAID estimates that 1000 people die of AIDS related diseases each day. Most are between the ages of 15 and 45, teens and adults who are the parents and producers in society. Already, over 1.3 million children have lost one or both parents to the disease.
What happens to these children? They drop out of school. If they have a remaining parent or extended family, they may have shelter, but with 50% of Kenyans living in poverty, on less than U. S. $1 per day, even family often cannot provide a safe harbor. If a family lacks sufficient income, children may be sent out daily to steal, scavenge in garbage dumps, or prostitute themselves. Without family, this is their only way to survive. Known as "street children", they are malnourished and exploited.
With the loss of an entire generation to AIDS, these children are essential to Kenya's survival as a society. They need help that the Kenyan government and society cannot provide!
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