Father's Day

This Father's Day, Keep a Child Alive recognizes our fathers in the field. Our work reminds us often of the importance of a father's love, especially in the face of HIV/AIDS. Here are several stories from the field that highlight the impact of father figures at our sites.

ALIVE MEDICAL SERVICES: ODHIAMBO STEVEN

Odhiambo Steven is a 28-year-old mechanical engineer. He is HIV negative; the family that he loves and cares so much for is HIV-positive. This has never gotten in the way of Steven's love for his family.

Before their marriage, Steven and his wife-to-be did not have access to free HIV testing and thus could not know if either was infected. They married anyway.

Steven and his wife brought their first son, Oumo Emmanuel, who they affectionately call "Emma," for medical treatment in 2006 after a period of illness. It was then that Steven and his wife learned that both Mrs. Odhiambo and Emma were HIV positive. She was pregnant at the time; she later miscarried. She became pregnant again in early 2008, but complications of the pregnancy required that the baby be delivered by cesarean section; the baby girl died after only seven days.

Mrs Odhiambo developed complications of her HIV, including pus in her abdomen, and had to go through numerous operations. Steven was by her side for all of them. Both Mrs. Odhiambo and Emma are receiving anti-retroviral treatment. Emma began his medication at Alive Medical Services in April 2008. When he began he was very sick: he had a severe skin rash, pus in his ear, and pneumonia. Thanks to life-saving AIDS medicine, he is now well and is growing strong.

Throughout his ordeal, Steven has remained a loving father to his family. He believes that other fathers should help fight HIV by providing for and remaining faithful to their families and making sure that they adhere to their treatment programs. They should take care of their families, pray for them, and love them unconditionally. Steven is very grateful to KCA for giving his family care, support, hope, and life.

ALIVE MEDICAL SERVICES: OCHWO ALOTO

Ochwo Aloto is an HIV positive father of ten. With KCA's help, he has kept his family together and has sought to educate his children about the dangers of HIV.

Ochwo, who is 58, learned that he was HIV positive in 2005 after a very severe illness. He began taking his anti-retroviral medication in a town in Eastern Uganda but eventually transferred to Alive Medical Services on the recommendation of a friend, who spoke highly of their excellent services. Ochwo's wife is also HIV positive. Two of their ten children, including 5-year-old Asuwa Samuel, are HIV positive as well. Asuwa receives HIV treatment from Alive Medical Services as well. When he began treatment he was very sick, but thanks to the comprehensive care that he has received from KCA and the love and support that he has been shown, he, like all the HIV positive members of his family, is now doing well.

Ochwo and his wife are able to work and take care of their children by themselves. With their health no longer an immediate concern and food no longer a source of worry, they can save for the future and take care of their children. Thanks to life-saving treatment funded by Keep a Child Alive, all ten of their children are now in school. At home, Ochwo makes sure that none of his children are stigmatized. He educates them about the dangers of HIV, the appropriate means of prevention, and how to care for those infected.

He implores fathers to do their part in fighting HIV/AIDS. He asks that they be honest with and faithful to their partners in order to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS, that they use condoms and birth control, and that they educate their children about HIV and the dangers that it poses, all in order to be a "point of prevention." Of course, he also asks that they continue to love their families as he has. To the supporters of Keep a Child Alive, Ochwo says,"I cannot find words to thank you. You have given my family life again and hope. You have provided for me and enabled me to take care of my family. God alone knows the reward he has for you. Long Live KCA. I will always pray for you."

OPERATION BOBBI BEAR: ALLAN BRANFIELD & NAAS OLIVIER

A letter from Bobbi Bear:

We are truly proud to thank two men in our lives, Allan Branfield and Naas Olivier.

Allan and Naas, thank you for the countless sleepless nights, the love, the dedication, and, more than anything, the patience you have shown throughout the years with the children who we have rescued.

We have so often walked into our homes with broken little bodies, starving, dirty, and tear-stained little faces, and both of you have always been there as the true Bobbi Bear "Dads."

Your softness, your unconditional love for these children, and the warm loving arms you wrap around them is what has helped heal them and has taught them that not all men are "baddies."

You have taught them to trust and love again but, most important of all, you have also taught them to have fun again. The smiles on their little faces after being around you are priceless.

You have always been the Dads for the children of Bobbi Bear. You are our strength and our support, and because of you we are free to rescue these "little bodies." We know that your love for these children will go a long way in the healing process.

There is not one child who the two of you have hugged who will ever forget you and the love that you showed them.

We as a team dearly love and respect you both, and Jackie and I are so proud to have you in our lives and to know that when we walk in with a crying, hurt child, you will always be there and your arms will lovingly open and it won't matter that we didn't cook for you. You understand! You always understand.

On behalf of the children we serve, we thank you and may God Bless you both and keep you safe. We at Bobbi Bear are a team, a family and Allan and Naas, you are the Dads of this team. We could not manage this on our own.

We love you.

Eureka, Jackie, the Bobbi Bear team, and the children

IKAGENG ITIRELENG AIDS MINISTRY: SANDILE SHANGE

According to current estimates, there are more than 1.4 million South African children who have been orphaned by AIDS. Sandile Shange leads one of 330 child-headed households that benefit from care and support by Mum Carol & Ikageng Itireleng AIDS Ministry. His dream is to become a good father. He draws his inspiration from his own father, who taught him to love and show love at no cost. Here are Sandile's own words on the importance of fathers:

Fathers play an important role in the growth of children. They are seen as the security figure which will explain the reason why children feel safe and protected around them. A father’s role especially with boys is very instrumental because they are responsible for guiding the boy towards his change into becoming a man. Differences can be picked up between boys that grew up with a father and those that did not.

For girls, fathers display the positive qualities that the girl would love to have in her future husband and they also display the negative qualities that the girl will not be able to tolerate in future. This can affect her relationship with male species in the workplace and her social life.

It takes two people to conceive a baby; it should also take two to raise a baby unless natural causes/events take place. It is difficult to erase thoughts and feelings of a child that grew up without a father but had a father. It is understandable in cases where the child lost the father due to death.

In short, fathers prepare the children for the outside world and a mother’s love alone is not enough. The fathers presence, love, care and guidance balances everything.