This little light of mine

Today was the first day I went to the field with the Home Based Care workers. Home Based Care is one of the most popular models in AIDS relief work today. I am here to learn as much as I can about the model, and later explain it to other people. But that's not the real reason why I am writing this post.

AIDS, like any other killing disease, brings trauma - to both the patient and the family members. Knowing that the patient doesn't have long to live removes you of all hope. But AIDS also brings a stigma along with it. Even though one must have been pricked accidentally by an unsterilized needle, everybody would condemn the person of being immoral (though sadly, it is the case 90% of the time).

A patient called "K" has been admitted here in the hospital for the past 2 weeks. Her youngest daughter, 5, also HIV/+ is here to take care of her. Her husband, also infected with the virus, is at home, bedridden. However, the mother has left a month's stock of groceries for their two other HIV negative elder daughters, one studying in the 12th and the other in the 10th. These two hardworking girls take care of the place. They told our friend, (and trainer) that they remember to clean the place regularly, and keep all their books and bags in order.
They are out of cooking-gas, so they cook their food using firewood. They cook for their father and themselves, clean the room everyday, take care of a little baby and study for their respective exams! And I thought I was doing a great job learning how to use the electric cooker!
Well, hell's not over for them. While we were speaking, two old women looked into the room and walked away. Immediately, this eldest daughter's face fell with shame and tears were welling up. I have a feeling that the girls weren't so popular in their village either. No points for guessing why.

As I write this, I feel like I am writing the first half of the Cinderella story. Don't these girls deserve a break? Hmm... May be, but they're not getting one in the near future at least. Chances are, that they are living just for their parents. As soon as their parents die, uncles and aunts will grab the place they're staying in now. They might marry them off for a cheap dowry, which means they will end up with even more disgusting men for husbands.

Something is very wrong here. But sadly, things like this happen everyday. AIDS is showing no sign of slowing down the infection rate, and people are showing no signs of stopping their immoral behavior. Also, people today rarely look out for others. If only the neighbours and friends were more supportive, we won't actually have a need to go and drop here every month. The mother won't be so sick with the lack of hope and the father MIGHT have changed because of this. Children don't have to hide their faces with shame the way they do. Survival of the fittest sucks.

Today's world is full of hypocrites. Thinking that by living good lives, providing for self and family and getting respect from people we have completed our duty as humans. Christians thinking that their little light is shining brightly among those who need it don't realize that they are sitting inside the wicker-basket.

At this time, I wonder if I also am a part of this dastardly system we all live in. Am I unknowingly trampling on the frail heads of a million people whose needs are smaller than those of a sparrow? Am I merely being a hypocrite with a job like this to explain away my actual insensitivity? And in anyway am I actually contributing to this Survival of the Fittest world that raises the wicked on pedastals made of the bones of the poor? I can only hope not.