Restoring Dignity in Sub-Saharan Africa

When it comes to the AIDS epidemic, East and Southern Africa are the most affected regions in the world. Send Relief partners in the area have been hard at work trying to provide the appropriate care for patients in the comfort of their own homes, but limited funding has made it difficult for them to purchase the needed supplies. With the help of your contributions, Send Relief partners were recently able to offer spiritual and physical support by delivering 300 care kits to in-home patients.

Jacob was one such patient. After being born HIV-positive and subsequently orphaned by the same disease, Jacob grew up severely underweight and malnourished before joining a care program almost a year ago. Because of the social stigma around receiving medical treatment for AIDS, Jacob was not taking his medication and had deteriorated so rapidly that he could no longer carry his own backpack to class. While enrolled, Jacob also got word that his house had burned down in a fire, leaving him homeless overnight.

Empowered by your donations, Send Relief partners were able to provide Jacob with an in-home care kit, which included sheets, slippers, towels, gloves, balm and medicated soap, along with other preventative supplies. After recovering from the initial shock of the fire’s aftermath and accepting the help being offered, Jacob started taking his medicine again and slowly began to improve. Today, there is a marked difference in Jacob’s countenance, as he is a confident high schooler with a full time job and a solid support system. Jacob attends regular counseling sessions and empowerment workshops led by partners and is happy to share that his immune system has never been healthier!

As is evident in Jacob’s story, the distribution of these kits facilitated the growth of lasting, meaningful relationships with the people who received them. Previously shunned from society, these individuals experienced the love of Christ through the restoration of their dignity and humanity; and many regained mobility and independence because of the care received. Thank you for enabling this community to experience restored health and spiritual care! To contribute to similar projects being led around the world, donate today.


Published September 2, 2019