It is difficult to grow up as an orphan of AIDS in a least developed country like Swaziland, I mean with no one to look after you especially when all you need is care in a country that in its self is having a hard time in dealing with the rate of poverty. In this article I will make an attempt to discuss the situation as it currently stands. I encourage you to read the article right to the end.

If projections are anything to go by the number of AIDS orphans in Swaziland increases at an alarming rate every year. These little ones do not have both the father and the mother; there are, however so very few cases where you can find one sickly parent still alive. The situation is unbearable in polygamous households because the children have only one father so when the he dies, the young ones are left without proper care and food.

The worst part is that, the mothers also become victims of the deadly virus. Death engulfs the mothers one after the other they pass on and the children are left to take care of themselves with no adult support or supervision. Relatives do try to assist at times but in most cases are unable to due to the large number of children to look after. As a result the children end up heading the household.

Just before the parents die the AIDS orphans actually become the parents to the parents i.e. the eldest has to take care of them including the younger siblings. In most instances the child is left drained because of the many chores such as cooking for the parents - because they cannot take their medication without food in their stomachs.

To make matters worse, the elder child who becomes the head of the household often lacks some experience on how to take care of HIV infected people and thus become vulnerable to being infected with the HIV virus.

Having to cope with the pressure of being parent, student and everything else, the orphan of AIDS does not get time to become a kid like any normal kid. I mean, before going to school in the morning, for those that get paid for by the government, they have to become parents first. That is, wake the other younger siblings, see to it that they bath, get them something to eat and then see them off to school.

Most often these children have to walk long distances on barefoot just to get to school. In most cases they go to school on an empty stomach. No one can fully comprehend what these kids go through in winter without something descent to wear and proper school uniform and even summer under the boiling African sun.

There is no doubt that AIDS orphans in Swaziland need as much assistance from people within the country and even outside the country. I have seen how some of these little ones have managed to defy all odds and made a good life for themselves. I know someone who grew up under these terrible conditions but has managed to make it in life. It took only one kind person who saw beyond his disadvantages and realized what a great person that orphan of AIDS could be.