Scheme to ease Aids-induced burden kicks off

The Kilimanjaro HIV/Aids Control Project-Mkuki, has embarked on an ambitious programme that will see elderly widows burdened by the upkeep of grandchildren whose parents died of HIV/AIDS in Moshi Rural District, getting low cost houses free of charge.

According to Mkuki Project Executive Director, Linah Mlay, her organization which has identified 59 elderly widows caring for 133 grandchildren in their area of intervention, will give priority to widows without shelter.

``To start with we have finalized all logistics to build low costs house for four elderly widows that will cost about 20m/-, `` Linah said, explaining that the houses will be constructed in their respective villages.

The Project Manager, Dr. Joseph Minja, identified an elderly widow, Bernadeta Joseph Nguma from Rosho Kilema Juu village who cares for six orphans, as one of the first beneficiaries of this initiative, probably the first of its kind in the country.

``My house was swept away by a strong wind, compounding the hardships that my six grandchildren and I have been facing. We were thereafter given accommodation by good samaritans, but we were in constant fear of an uncertain future,`` Bernadeta told reporters.

``I am very grateful to Mkuki Project for its grand idea of building us a permanent house,`` Bernadeta said, adding that she prayed to God to eradicate HIV/Aids.

She described the disease as a big curse since it killed many people, and created many orphans as a consequence.

An aged widow, Theresia Thobias Oscar of Kilema Pofo, who is fending for four grandchildren, is another beneficiary.

``I have almost give up hope of living because it is very difficult to get someone out of nowhere to build a house for me ; we thank God for his miracle through the Mkuki Project, `` she said.

Other would-be beneficiaries spoke along similar lines, showering praises on the project.

According to Mkuki Project, Executive Director, Linah, the idea of constructing the low cost houses was conceived in Canada. She led a group of elderly widows to Canada recently for an exchange programme with the Canadian Steven Lewis Foundation.

While in Canada where they met hundreds of elderly widows across the African Continent at the great Steven Lewis Foundation, they raised funds for constructing the houses.

The Kilimanjaro HIV/Aids Control Project-Mkuki, the headquarters of which are at Himo town, dates back to 1993 and was registered one year later.