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LongHIV-infected boy
Country:
 China |
Content:
A Biography of Long
Long is a HIV-infected boy who survives in his solitary cabin. He has a garden, chickens, a dog, and a monthly pension of 70 yuan. His parents died from AIDS, and Long himself also contracted HIV, which caused him to be rejected by the local rural community. Long lives in a small village in the Guangxi province. He is an orphan - both his mother and father died from AIDS. He has become an outcast in the village - the local school refuses to accept him, arguing that they cannot guarantee his safety (some parents of other students threatened to kill him if they saw him in the classroom with their children). The local doctor also refuses to treat Long, fearing to contract HIV from him. Even his 84-year-old grandmother refused to take him home. However, she occasionally visits her grandson, helping him take care of the garden.
Living Conditions
Long is forced to live alone in his parents' cement cabin. It is a windowless house, with a stove for heating and no utilities. At just 6 years old, he is self-sufficient and manages his own household. He has chickens and a garden where he grows cabbage and leeks. He takes care of all the household chores, including cooking, washing, and doing dishes - essentially doing everything that the adult villagers do. The government has assigned Long a pension of 70 yuan (approximately $10), and promises to increase it to 100 yuan per month ($15) soon. He also receives medication from the government to slow the progression of his illness.
Acts of Kindness
There are kind-hearted people in the world, and from time to time, someone secretly brings Long clothes, old blankets, and food. For example, one man recently gave Long 20 kilograms of rice and 5 kilograms of noodles. Like any child his age, Long likes to play - with a ball, a wooden sword, but most often with his dog named "Old Black". The dog is essentially the only member of his family, sleeping with the boy in the same bed. Long has taught himself to read and write, and a man brings him a local newspaper once a week - this is his only "window" to the outside world.
