VOICES OF CHILDREN
A LITTLE SCHOOL BOYS STORY (Kenya)
Nine year-old Nganda was vibrant, funny and full of life. His daily routine consisted of helping his mother in the morning with the chores, feeding the chickens, and helping out wherever he could. After dressing in a torn green uniform shirt and a pair of soiled shorts with no shoes to wear he waved good-bye to his parents and left his small house made of mud, sticks and water.
Learning mathematics, reading and history was a joy. A competitive game of soccer topped the day. When its time for Nganda to return home from a long seven hour day of school, he stopped to drink a sip of water from a small revine in the village where the water is unsafe to drink. As his tiny feet reached the pathway of the mud built house, he was greeted by his mother. He dropped the small plastic bag he carried filled with pencils and lose papers to comfort her.
Weeks later, Nganda was faced with the challenge of his young life. His mother sat next to his side as a high fever and diarreah threatened his body. With little hope of recovery Nganda's mother and father carried him ten miles to the nearest hospital. Hours later, the doctors diagnosed Nganda with Malaria. His father rushed to friends, churches and strangers asking for money to help pay his son's hospital bill that rises each day with few to no signs of progress of Nganda's health status. Two weeks later Nganda dies in the Machakos Hospital in Kenya from Malaria.
*Malaria and HIV/AIDS continue to take the lives of thousands of men, women and children throughout Sub-Saharan Africa on a daily basis. Clean drinking water and preventive education help combat the spread of such diseases.
