Day 9 - Tam Binh 2, AIDS Orphanage

This morning we had another early start to make our way 1/2 an hour out of downtown to the Tam Binh 2 Orphanage for children infected with HIV/AIDS. I must say that we weren't eagerly anticipating this visit, but we knew that we could help in our own small way. There are 75 children at the orphanage; 10 of them ages 2-8 years old, the remaining are newborn to 5 years old. It is affiliated with another Tam Binh Orphanage that some families in the U.S. have adopted their children from.

Most of the children had parents that are either drug addicted or prostitutes that have died of AIDS. They come from all over Vietnam as this is one of the few orphanages specifically for children with AIDS that is semi-supported by the government. The 5-year old has Downs Syndrome and has not been able to eat solids yet so he stays with the younger babies. The 8 year old girl that has been living there came to orphanage when she was just 2 months old and has had a good life being loved by all her nannies at Tam Binh. She is definitely the "mother hen" and takes care of all her friends.

Most of the babies are treated only for common childhood illnesses - scabies, colds, fevers, etc.. Rarely are they put on any sort of HIV/AIDS medicine because there is just not enough to give to all the children and how would they be able to choose which ones should receive it. Only the sickest of the children are given some if it can prolong their life. The orphanage also has a walk-in clinic for any body in the community that needs to be treated. Like with the Red Cross in Da Lat, generous donations from medical facilities and representatives that know Shelley and Catherine, we were able to leave them with some antibiotics and basic supplies. They were very grateful for everything! So again, thank you all so much for your generosity.

Tam Binh 2 receives funding from the government as well as a few other international non profit organizations. It only costs $10 a month to support a child with the basic necessities. Any incidentals, they need to find funding for. We will be able to provide them this time with a few month's worth of diapers (which they prefer if they have enough of) and some play mats for two of the rooms so the children don't fall on the cold tile and hurt themselves. It is a very clean and beautiful orphanage. The best I had ever seen in Vietnam. You could tell a lot of care was taken to give the children the best possible environment.

There are only 2 nannies per room, 10 working at orphanage any given time. It's not enough "people power" to hold, feed, care, and play with all the babies. So our job there for 2 hours was just that - to hold them and play with them. They were all a little scared seeing so many people come in with cameras and smiles. But they quickly warmed up to us when we brought out some toys and we had plenty of hugs to give.

It was very emotional for all of us. These are children that deserved so much more and yet had so little time. In the past year and a half they have lost 15 children. And while we were there we met a little girl that was just 4 years old and had not been eating for 9 days. She was taken to the hospital and then they let her go "home" to die. All they could do was make her comfortable. Another little girl just next to her was also very, very sick and we knew that she would soon follow. It is heartbreaking to look at these two girls and feel completely useless.

You will see in future pictures, that I will post, the faces of children will make your heart melt. We all wanted to take them home with us. It motivated all of us to do something about the plight of children with AIDS even if it was to tell all of you about it. It is a global problem with global consequences. The world will lose an entire generation if something is not done NOW!

Peace,
Caroline