United Nations Radio

Today is World AIDS Day. With the theme "Universal Access and Human Rights," we hear about a young woman who, although orphaned by AIDS in Uganda in the 1990s, still managed to become a doctor who now helps AIDS orphans. Gerry Adams has the story:

Dr. Julian Atim examines infant

Narrator: Dr. Julian Atim is a member of the Action Group for Health, Human Rights and HIV/AIDS in Uganda. She says she knew of AIDS as a child but was not affected until her parents became sick:

Atim 1: Growing up as a child in Uganda, I knew AIDS as a disease for adults because most children then did not live long enough to be diagnosed with HIV. My father died in the early 90s when almost every cause of death was assumed to be AIDS even when proven otherwise. I did not know what he had died of until several years later when my mother's health began deteriorating.

Narrator: Dr. Atim, along with her siblings, experienced the gradual deterioration and death of her mother as well as discrimination from neighbours:

Atim 2: Regarding discrimination, my five year old brother was the first to experience this. One morning he came running home crying. And when my mother asked him what was wrong, "Mom! The student told me their parents told them not to play with them because my family has AIDS.

Narrator: As orphans, Dr. Atim's older siblings took on the role of parents while still young themselves. She says despite the challenges, their faith and the love they had for each other kept them going. A few years later, Dr. Atim was awarded a scholarship to medical school and upon completion of her studies, began working in a hospital with AIDS orphans:

Atim 3: AIDS orphans have high risk of getting HIV infection through vertical transmission and sexually because of their vulnerability to sexual exploitation. To make matters worse, HIV prevention strategies that target children are implemented in schools. Thus, a child who does not go to school misses out on such opportunities.

Narrator: Now, Dr. Atim is working with those orphaned by AIDS, helping them overcome the obstacles she faced as a child:

Atim 4: All this experience of providing care to children infected and affected with HIV made me appreciate that these children did not only need clinical care. And based on this, I am currently working with St. Joseph's hospital to set up a child care center to provide basic needs, including food, educational, emotional and psychological support to children, not only those who are infected with HIV but also those who are affected by HIV.

Narrator: Dr. Julian Atim. Reporting for UN Radio, this is Gerry Adams.

duration: 2'32"