Focus: Deprived of love, stigmatised: a child’s sad ordeal

On the veranda of a little roadside house, is a 13 year old girl. She is lighting a charcoal stove to prepare lunch for her two nieces and nephew who are about to arrive from school. Though far older than her, its Clarisse’s role to ensure that their meals are served on time and that all the domestic work is done. The girl stays with her paternal auntie in Gacyuriro [Kinyinya]. Clarisse Uwayezu’s life is a living hell. “I am gladly waiting for my death. I’ve never been pleased since I lost my parents,” she sobs. Every single day, Uwayezu curses being born with HIV/AIDS. Though it’s not her fault, her family pins it on her. Pale, with scars and wounds all over the body, Uwayezu’s aunt says it’s the best she can ever look. Pointing to a big wound on Uwayezu’s upper-lip, the aunt asserts that Clarisse has no future. “This is the reason I’ve never sent her to school.” She immediately sends the young girl to fetch water. Considering Uwayezu’s health, being subjected to the entire domestic work and that at the aunt’s restaurant is quite absurd, at least to me. HIV infected victims should feed well and toil little. This is not the case as far as Uwayezu is concerned. She sleeps very late and wakes up very early. She sleeps at 12:00a.m and is supposed to be up by 4:00a.m. “I prepare breakfast for my aunt’s kids and also fetch water for the restaurant,” explains the girl. “Clarisse is being subjected to child labour and stigma. She is battered whenever she associates with age-mates,” comments Amina Tugyinama, a neighbour. Tugyinama recalls a time when she invited Uwayezu along with the aunt’s kids to a party but the latter never came along because of being afraid of the aunt. Many HIV positive people have a sad story to tell about being rejected by their own people. As the Uwayezu’s age-mates play, her mind focuses on why she was born. Her Aunty’s answer has always been the same the girl’s school issues [You are to die soon so no need to ravage resources]. This word has clung to the girls mind. Uwayezu’s inheritance was confiscated by the aunt on claims that she is ‘a moving corpse anyway’. At only 13, Uwayezu goes to Ngarama Hospital for ARV’s which she delays to get or doesn’t even get at times. “It’s always a long queue yet no one can excuse me since I am a kid, without support.” Accordingly, she gets meals once or twice a day depending on the aunt’s mood. What is worse is that when the neighbours try to intervene, matters get worse. “I got her clothes but the Aunt gave them to her children saying Uwayezu won’t have them for long,” Zaituni Umutoni, an agemate, an age-mate confided. Meanwhile, the authorities of Kinyinya are laid back about the case. “We can’t take the girl from her aunt. She goes to hospital, so what else can we do?” one of them said. Let’s take responsibility of giving hope and support to those living with HIV/AIDS. Light a candle in someone’s life, assure them of life. Let’s not kill our brethren with emotional and physical stigma. As she continued with her chores, Uwayezu continued saying that her days were numbered. I hope she will get the support she needs from organisations or bodies with the capacity. She needs all the support. You never know, if given the right support and counselling a few happy years maybe added to this poor young girl. My heart bleeds for her. Email: lillianean@yahoo.com