Imagine being born with a virus which has no cure... Imagine losing both of your parents to the disease at an early age... And then imagine the torment of being abandoned by relatives and the rest of society…

HIV is a devastating disease, millions die from AIDS and related causes every year and the epidemic is actually growing.

Children are the most vulnerable victims of AIDS.  Becoming infected from sick parents, losing their parents to AIDS, then subsequently being rejected and renounced by relatives, driven by stigma, ignorance and discrimination; they often become social outcasts.

Myanmar is one of the countries most affected by AIDS in Asia.  The epidemic is driven by sexual transmission, but HIV is also alarmingly high amongst injecting drug users – 61% of them sharing contaminated needles and 10% of them being sex workers injecting drugs.  Despite having one of the largest HIV epidemics, only about 20% of infected people receive treatment.

Myanmar is a growing country and is on its way to democracy after 50 years of military rule.  Nevertheless, it has one of the lowest spend on health in the world and the highest mortality rate for children under 5 years old in the region according to UNICEF.  Estimates suggest a minimum of around 60 000 HIV/AIDS orphans with approximately 18 000 deaths every year.

Our vision is a future where there are no infected children, who die due to lack of drugs which can keep them alive, access to medical treatments they need or non-acceptance of society.

***UPDATE - LITTLE BOY***

After many counselling sessions, he has come on leaps and bounds.He is now the oldest boy in the centre, he takes his responsibilities of locking the gates at night and looking out for the younger children really seriously. He is gaining confidence every day and doing very well at  school.

***UPDATE - LITTLE GIRL***

This young girl saved from a certain death is now a teenager living a normal life with her family.  She keeps in touch with Sr Martha on a regular basis.