Confidentiality,a double-edged sword

MUTATRE: She cared for two bed-ridden HIV positive daughters and a son for 12 years. All three died.

Now, 76-year-old grandmother Ena* of Mutare, a town on the border between Zimbabwe and Mozambique, is living with HIV herself. But the burden of caring for her eight orphaned grandchildren remains entirely hers.

"Someone should have told me that my children were dying from AIDS," laments Mbuya, as grandmothers are known colloquially in this part of the world. "I could have taken precaution while I cared for them during their illness. I could have avoided exposing myself to the virus. Now, who will care for me when I eventually fall ill from AIDS? Who will care for my orphaned grandchildren when I die from this disease?"

Editor's Comment
A promising step for public schools, but...

For too long, the state of many public schools has been a source of shame. We have all seen the pictures and heard the stories of broken windows, unreliable water and electricity, topped by classrooms that are not fit for proper learning. The establishment of the Education Infrastructure and Management Company Ltd (EIMC) signals that authorities are finally ready to take this problem seriously. We must commend the government for this initiative....

Have a Story? Send Us a tip
arrow up