Don’t treat the disease, treat the person

CULTURE & SOCIETY

by THE OLBIOS TEAM

Keep a Child Alive was founded in 2003 by AIDS activist Leigh Blake and 15-time Grammy Award-winner Alicia Keys, as an emergency push to get life-saving HIV medications to African children and families, who otherwise would not have had access to treatment. Thirteen years on, they continue to fight HIV and AIDS on the frontlines, their work growing to include the critical components necessary to support successful, life-long HIV treatment: comprehensive clinical care, nutritious food and psychosocial support, all delivered with dignity and respect. They now provide financial and programmatic support to seven grassroots programs in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, Uganda and India, serving 50.000 people annually. According to them, one should not just treat the disease, one should treat the person. Indeed, HIV touches almost every aspect of a person’s life. So too, then, should the treatment and care that challenges it. One can’t fight this epidemic without addressing the underlying conditions that exacerbate the impact of the virus. They also choose to harness the power of community as they’ve witnessed the power of communities to effect their own change. They partner with organizations committed to, and passionate about, the people they serve. Finally, they fight stigma with compassion : Stigma is in fact the engine that powers HIV and AIDS. Working closely with their programs, they find creative ways to make the bridge from social isolation and vulnerability to inclusion and strength. Keep a Child Alive_website Website: http://keepachildalive.org/keepachildalivewithaliciakeys/ 4 Stories of health restored

 

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