NGOs need support from everyone to help HIV-affected kids

By LULU MARK
Non-governmental organisations supporting children who lost both parents through HIV-AIDS need support from everyone to continue to provide care, according to an NGO.
More than 200 children living with HIV or affected by it in any way in Port Moresby were supported by Links of Hope, a faith-based organisation, programme facilitator Seruma Numa said during a lunch hosted by Gateway Hotel at the centre yesterday.
“The centre at Ela Beach runs literacy and early childhood learning programmes, provide pastoral care for children and conducts advocacy and education awareness programmes in schools and communities,” she said.
“Links of Hope was started in 2011 by an Australian family when they recognised a need of a formal support system.”
The initial objective was to help and support women on release from prison in the city to set up small business enterprises. They also assisted a number of widows from local communities and settlements and began supporting those living with HIV and AIDS through linking with other support networks. Operation of a child sponsorship programme supporting children living impacted by HIV with monthly care packages, educational programmes, school fees and uniforms is now their major focus.
Numa said they were funded through sponsors and fundraising activities but it was still difficult to take their programmes out into the communities.
She thanked Gateway Hotel for hosting the lunch to close the weekly Tuesday literacy and early childhood classes and the children’s Christmas gifts. Numa also acknowledged the hotel for showing the interest to partner with them.
According to Gateway health safety security and environmental manager Monica Oaike, the hotel gave the Links of Hope children a trip to Adventure Park at 14-Mile in 2017 and funded maintenance of the facility this year.