Meet Heni. She is two and a half years old. Her father is dead and her mother has AIDS. Heni is also HIV positive. Born in the Baliem Valley of West Papua, Heni and her mother are two of a growing number of people hit hard by the HIV epidemic.
Australian Government figures indicate the HIV rate in West Papua is 18 times Indonesia’s national average and HIV rates in West Papua’s highlands are alarming. In fact, no one really knows how serious it is. Recent testing among 95 junior high school students near Wamena indicated some 45% of the group were HIV positive.
There is considerable stigma and fear regarding HIV/AIDS. People do not understand. Heni and her mother were subsequently cast out of their village and had nowhere to go. Fortunately they were found and “adopted” by an overseas health worker who is now caring for them in Jayapura.
Heni does have some kind of future. I met her last week. She is receiving medication and, importantly, a home where there is good food, love and care.
There are many others like Heni who are yet to be treated. UnitingWorld is supporting our partner church, the Evangelical Christian Church in the Land of Papua, and its program to educate, identify and care for HIV positive people.
HIV/AIDS does not spare West Papua’s children. But little Heni does have a future. Many others do not. Our partner church in West Papua continues to address this critical need.
Give gifts that enable marginalised communities in West Papua to build sustainable livelihoods this Christmas via Everything in Common
