August 18, 1998
WE CARE The best life has Ignorant of the deadly HIV virus in their bodies, children at A.B.C. enjoy themselves in the loving, caring atmosphere which is aimed at keeping them healthy and happy. to offer HIV-infected children are likely to die young, but a group of carers in Chiang Mai are working hard to ensure five youngsters' short lives are filled with happiness and love story by Karnjariya Sukrung photo by smith Sutibut Five little boys and girls played hide and seek while in the corner of the room eight-year-old Kaw Fang was curled up and sobbing. Kaw Fang's mother recently died from Aids-related illnesses. Between his distraught sobs he called out for his mum. The lunch in front of him remained uneaten. "I'm afraid the grief he feels for his mother will make his own health worse," said Ricky Tan. Mr Tan, a Singaporean, is the founder of the Aids Babies' Centre (A.B.C.), a home for children with HIV/AIDS in Chiang Mai. Kaw Fang had full-blown Aids. His young body was racked by pneumonia, weakness and a fever. "He asks every day why he is sick. He says he is in so much pain he wants to die," said Mr Tan, 41. Last month Kaw Fang finally got his wish and he passed away. "When any child dies, a part of us dies too," Mr Tan said. Kaw Fang was the first child to die at the centre since it opened in August last year. Five children, aged between three and five, remain there. They are also infected with the HIV virus and it is likely they will eventually suffer the same fate as Kaw Fang. "We know they won't live long. So we want to give them love and the best of things while they are alive," said Mr Tan, a former drug addict-turned-Christian minister. Together with his wife, Ang Lay Hwa, a former school teacher, Mr Tan came to Thailand three years ago on a religious mission for his Singapore-based organisation, Care Corner International. Registered here under the name Care Corner Orphanage Foundation, the couple set up a home for more than 100 underprivileged children and orphans, providing them with shelter, food and educational opportunities. The foundation also financially supports a nursery for 54 youngsters under three in Ban Sanpayang, Mae Taeng in Chiang Mai. Around five of these children are HIV positive. Seeing the increasing number of children in Chiang Mai with Aids, the couple started to run the A.B.C. home to focus on these children's needs last year. "Most of these children are orphans and their relatives have prejudices against people with Aids. When the parents die, the relatives often shun the children," said Mr Tan. He quoted government's statistics which claim by the end of year 2000, up to 150,000 children will be orphaned after their parents die of Aids-related illnesses. The figures estimate 10 percent of these orphans will themselves be HIV positive. In his effort to help children suffering from Aids, Mr Tan set up the A.B.C. and there are currently five HIV-positive youngsters there. Each child was referred to the centre by the state-run Viengping Home for Babies in Chiang Mai. All the children are orphans whose parents have died of Aids, and whose relatives either cannot or will not care for them. The children live with four caregivers in a two-storey rented house in the heart of Chiang Mai city. The staff comprise of a cook, two nannies and a nurse. Apart from dispensing medication, they give the children parental love and care. "With a balanced regime of a proper diet, rest, hygiene - and lots of love - the children can live for 10 years or more," said Jeremy Blu Adlawan, a 24-year-old nurse from the Philippines. The in-house cook is responsible for ensuring the children have a healthy diet, rich in vegetables, fruit and meat, plus supplements like vitamins. The aim is to build-up the children's immune systems. The sick children receive medication and a daily check-up. Each child has a health book to record their temperature, symptoms and medication - similar to in a hospital. The children are as familiar with medicines, syringes, and thermometres as they are with toys. After each meal, they gulp down vitamin syrup and antibiotics before running off to play. Learning personal hygiene is the children's mandate. After each meal the children troop into the bathroom to clean their teeth. "They know their schedule, that they have to have medicine after meals, it's part of their lives," said Mr Blu Adlawan. The children often fall ill with flu, fever, coughs, skin and ear infections, pneumonia and diarrhoea. If they fall seriously ill they are sent to Nakhon Ping Hospital where they receive free medical treatment. Personal hygiene is very important among such sick children. Each day, the care providers trim the children's nails and check their ears and mouths. The staff are constantly watching out for the well-being of the children in a bid to prevent accidents that will give them cuts and bruises and put their heath at further risk. Dealing with HIV children does involve risks. To prevent the cross-spread of infection, the nurses and caregivers wear gloves whenever they bathe the children or whenever the children fall and cut themselves. "We hug them, cuddle them, and kiss them to tell them we love them and we care, but we also have to be careful," said Mr Blu Adlawan. While the children sleep the staff clean up the area where the medication is given, they mop the floors, change the mattress and sterilise the milk bottles. Due to the children's fragile health, they do not go to school, however, they are not deprived of an education. Every morning, the staff teach them some Thai, English and simple maths. The rest of the day is then given over to playing, watching TV and videos, and sleeping. And once a week the staff and children go outside, mostly to the parks. Still in the early stage of Aids, outsiders might think the children are normal healthy kids. With the love and care of the staff, they are cheerful and playful, yet obedient and disciplined. After finishing their meals they go into the kitchen to place their trays in the sink and then straight to the bathroom to brush their teeth. Then it's time for medication before going to play. Living 24-hours a day with HIV-infected children is tough, and volunteers and carers take a day off in a week for an emotional rest. "It's stressful and tiring to live with children with Aids. We see them grow and get sick every day. We hear their cries and we can't cure them," said Mr Blu Adlawan. "It's like playing a losing game. No matter what we do, we can't fight their disease. Sometimes, I don't want to wake up at night to hear their crying or see their suffering, because I know I can't do anything to cure them." The centre's monthly operation costs including food, clothes and medication is about 40,000 baht. The initial set-up costs were subsidised by Care Corner International in Singapore. However, Mr Tan decided to raise some funds on his own. "We can't rely on the mission entirely for donations. We can't expect people to give all the time. We need to be independent and self-supportive and to ensure the mission here will go on with or without donations," said Mr Tan. Called papa, Ricky Tan plays affectionately with the children, as the nurse in the blue gown helps with the youngsters at mealtime. To this end, in 1997, Mr Tan set up a self-help scheme selling Chiang Mai handicrafts abroad. The business registered under the name Gecko Gifts and Crafts, sells handicrafts products such as dried flowers on saa paper, picture frames, bookmarks, children's toys, stuffed toys and cards. Most of the goods are exported to Singapore, Malaysia and other foreign outlets where his friends and acquaintances stay. The business has not only proved to be a useful fundraising venture, it also provides occupational therapy for mothers with Aids and additional income for relatives of children with Aids. The profits support the centre for children with Aids and the two orphanages in Chiang Mai. "Profits from the sale can cover 30-40 percent of the expenses in the homes. As the business grows, we hope in the future, we can run the homes and centre by ourselves and take on more children," said Mr Tan. "We also hope with our love and care they can live long, at least, to celebrate their 10th birthdays." Info for donations : Name of organisation : Aids Babies Centre Address : 41/2 Bumrungburi Road, Tambon Prasing Muang, Chiang Mai 50200 Mailing address: Care Corner Thailand P. O. Box 38 Prasing Post Office Chiang Mai 50200 Founder : Ricky Tan Tel/Fax : (053) 278-176		Classifieds Jobs Property Entertainment Investment Education Travel Sales Learn English Weekly Database Horizons NiteOwl Student Weekly Real Time Special We Care Street Art Back Issues Last Month Archive Company Servcies Subscriptions Advertising Annual Report
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