In 1983, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was first discovered in Belgium, according to a report published by the United States National Library of Medicine, the world’s largest medical library.
“However, the epidemic was recognized much later in most parts of sub-Saharan Africa due to stigma and perceived fear of possible negative consequences to the countries’ economies,” the report states. “This delay had devastating mortality, morbidity, and social consequences.”
Forty-one years later, on this year’s World AIDS Day, December 1, Bread and Water for Africa® is continuing work with our orphan care partners in Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe to provide loving homes, food, shelter, healthcare, an education, and more to orphaned children, many due to the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis in sub-Saharan Africa.
The theme for this year’s World AIDS Day is “Take the rights path” with UNAIDS noting that “The world can end AIDS – if everyone’s rights are protected.”
“The substantial progress that has been made in the HIV response is directly linked to progress in protecting human rights,” states UNAIDS. “In turn, the progress made through the HIV response has galvanized broader progress in realizing the right to health and strengthening health systems.
“But gaps in the realization of human rights for all are keeping the world from getting on the path that ends AIDS and are hurting public health, and now a surge in attacks on rights is threatening to undermine the progress that has been made.”
While many in the U.S. and elsewhere don’t give HIV/AIDS much thought these days (unless they have a loved one who contracted the virus), in sub-Saharan Africa HIV/AIDS remains on the forefront.
A May 2023 report by the National Library of Medicine, stated that “The global HIV epidemic has had the greatest impact on sub-Saharan Africa” and that an estimated 67 percent of the 38.4 million people (25,728,000 individuals) living with HIV globally in 2021 were from sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition, “Sub-Saharan Africa was responsible for 670,000 of the 1.5 million new infections and 280,000 of the 650,000 AIDS-related deaths reported globally in 2021.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in May 2024, every day HIV affects more than 1,000 young people aged 15 to 24 globally and “sub-Saharan Africa remains at the epicenter of the HIV epidemic.”
One of Bread and Water for Africa® longest time partner is the Kabwata Orphanage and Transit Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, which was founded in 1997 “to benefit the children affected and infected by HIV/AIDS and other eventualities that made them not have a decent life,” states Kabwata founder and director Angela Miyanda.
Our partnership with Angela and Kabwata dates back to 1998 when Bread and Water for Africa® provided her with a grant of $5,000 as seed money to support an orphanage and transit centre to house orphaned and abused children until permanent homes could be found for them within the country.
Many of the children were orphaned due to the tragic AIDS epidemic and finding suitable homes with relatives or in foster care was extremely difficult, especially in the cases in which the children themselves were born with the virus.
“There are almost 100 deaths per day in the capital from AIDS,” she reported. “This leaves many, many orphans and although there are only about 50 children at the centre, these children are indeed blessed to be in Mrs. Miyanda’s care.”
“The AIDS situation is dire in Zambia.”
Twenty-two years later, in 2024, Bread and Water for Africa® recognized Angela, a former “Second Lady” of Zambia whose husband, Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda served for seven years as vice president of the country, for her efforts to address the tragic realities of the HIV/AIDS crisis she encountered on a daily basis.
Despite being the mother of four and a politician’s wife, Angela says she knew God had given her a higher calling because she found it impossible to stop worrying about all the orphans who lost their parents to the illness.
“I founded the Kabwata Transit Centre in response to the plight of children orphaned by HIV/AIDS,” Angela told us. “Quickly, however, that mission grew to include Lusaka’s orphaned street children, many also victims of HIV/AIDS.”
At the time, Angela reported that by many estimates Zambia has the highest proportion of orphaned children in the world, primarily due to HIV/AIDS. “The enormity of our HIV/AIDS crisis has stretched Zambia’s social fabric to the breaking point,” she said.
“It became obvious that we needed to address root causes of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and also the needs of local communities,” she said, noting that working with community leaders and volunteers the transit centre’s operations quickly expanded.
In the summer of 2017, the Daily Mail of Zambia reported on “Kabwata Orphanage: Many successes 20 years later” noting at the time that a total of 563 children had passed through Kabwata.
“The orphanage was born out of Mrs. Miyanda’s compassion for children who were left behind by parents who died of AIDS and related illnesses,” the article states, adding that when Angela opened “HIV and AIDS was at its peak” and it was at that time she decided to create a shelter for such children.
And, to date, children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic still make up the largest number of those who have gone through Kabwata, and Angela notes that in all its years of existence, they have lost 13 children, mostly due to HIV and AIDS.
“The oldest was 11 years old,” Angela said.
But Angela does not dwell on those lost, but those who now have a great life and hope for the future.
“The greatest achievement we celebrate are the children who have made it and are able to fend for themselves,” she said. “I have had very wonderful people around; we cannot even claim that we have done it all by ourselves at the centre.
“It has been a collection of so many people. It is not me and myself, but God.”
In Zimbabwe, a similar situation was tragically taking place during that time.
In 1999, Bread and Water for Africa® began our partnership with Emmanuel Ministries (later to become Shinga Development Trust) and founder Margaret Makimbira in Mutare, Zimbabwe. In early 2001, the Bread and Water for Africa® were informed, “In Mozambique, an orphan care program became necessary after many community members died of AIDS. The children naturally came to the site because they had nowhere else to go.”
Among those who ended up at Margaret’s doorstep was Alisa, a 6-year-old who had gone through a lot in her young life, including being physically and emotionally abused and becoming infected with HIV. But all was not lost as at Shinga’s Lerato Children’s Home, Alisa found a home filled with love from her newfound “brothers and sisters” and found a place forever in the heart of her “mother” Margaret.
Most recently, in 2022 Bread and Water for Africa® began a partnership with Watoto Wa Africa (WWA), founded in 2000 by Josephat and Rosemary Kirutu, with its primary focus being “caring for orphaned and other vulnerable children” which at that time was providing for 108 children at its orphanage in Buswelu, Tanzania.
“Statistics say there are currently more than two million Tanzanians infected with the HIV/AIDS virus,” Josephat reported in his application for grant funding from Bread and Water for Africa® in June 2022. “However, the actual numbers are thought to be far greater.
“The number of children orphaned by the effects of AIDS increases daily.”
In addition to improving the quality of life of orphans and “street children” in Tanzania by providing a safe environment to meet their basic needs and enrich their mind and spirits, a primary objective of WWA’s is to “conduct counseling programs for behavior change for young people on HIV/AIDS” and overall HIV/AIDS awareness.
At Bread and Water for Africa®, we are thankful to Angela, Margaret and Josephat for their efforts to providing loving homes and so much more to innocent child survivors of the deadly virus, and our supporters who are making it all possible on this World AIDS Day.
