Founder of Uganda Orphan fund speaks to students

Program helps 300 HIV-positive orphans

Sean Dornbrush

Last week, Myrna Ronald, nurse and founder of the Uganda Orphan Fund, spoke to students about her experiences fighting AIDS in Africa, and the many problems that remain to be addressed by the governments of those countries.

The event was hosted by U of M Amnesty International and the AIDS Crisis committee.

Supported by the Academic Alliance, Ronald and her husband have spent much of the last two years in Uganda and Kenya working with HIV-positive children.

The program began with 12 children — now, there are 300. Already a grandmother on her own, Ronald has become a foster-grandmother — or, as the children call her, Jja-Jja — to many Ugandan orphans infected with HIV/AIDS.

In Africa, sexual issues are poorly understood and rarely addressed. This is the result of cultural tradition, Ronald said. She noted that in South Africa, 60 per cent of females are forced to lose their virginity to a person in a higher power position. According to Ronald, systemic issues like these stem from ignorance of the deeper issues; some governments and businesses will not send relief because there are not enough trained people to contend with it.

“It’s really saddening but also inspiring because these people are living in such a bad way, but they still manage to be hopeful,” said Rebecca Coish, a third-year science student and president of U of M Amnesty International. “A lot of people think that they can’t help solve the problem because it’s so big, but the truth is that a little really does go a long way.”

In Uganda, President Museuoni is taking an active approach to help his country. He has developed an ABCD program (Abstinence, Be faithful, use Condoms, and Diagnose and Disclose HIV status).

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also contributing. The Academic Alliance has built a clinic and sent five doctors to work in Africa, including Ronald’s husband. So far, 300 doctors have been trained in South Africa by the Academic Alliance.

The AIDS virus is not very infectious, with only a one per cent chance of acquiring it unless a person engages in intercourse with an infected individual. In this case, the probability of becoming infected with the virus substantially increases.

Generally, people infected with HIV can expect to live eight years from diagnosis.

The Uganda Orphan Fund accepts clothes, school supplies, sports equipment or money that can be donated to St. Boniface hospital.

The AIDS Crisis Committee will be hosting a Hunger Banquet and Community Dance on November 26 to raise money for the Uganda Orphan Fund. The dinner will begin at 5:00 p.m. at Churchill United Church. For more information, phone 487-0756.