Compassion International has been fighting the disease more than 25 years
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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- It is a scary statistic. Health experts estimate nearly 14,000 people worldwide become infected with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) everyday.
Statistics show that nearly 8,500 people die from AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) everyday. Additionally, every 14 seconds a child is orphaned by the disease. Experts predict that by 2010, there will be 25 million AIDS orphans in the world.
Despite the bleak numbers, a local group is fighting the disease one person, one village at a time. Compassion International is a local, nonprofit organization that helps rescue children from poverty, many of which are afflicted with HIV/AIDS.
Compassion has been combating AIDS in Africa for more than 25 years.
The nonprofit works through local churches in Africa to care for AIDS victims and their families while breaking the stigma that surrounds shunned aids sufferers. All the while the churches are educating their communities on how to stop the spread of the disease.
"In terms of children, HIV is a huge threat for children living in Africa. We have just over 2.5 million children infected with HIV, 90 percent of them in Africa," Dr. Scott Todd said. "In terms of the number of children who have lost parents to HIV, 90 percent of those are African children.
The numbers are shocking. Millions of African children are alone and infected. Dr. Scott Todd with Compassion International said the kids are oftentimes isolated from others.
"Here is a child who does not know they are sick because the disease has not progressed, and yet people are beginning to shut them out," Todd said.
Todd said those who survive infancy usually begin to fall sick during their teenage years. But he said thanks to their network of churches, health care providers and project facilitators on the ground, hope abounds amongst the devastation.
"Those churches identify the kids in their community who have the greatest need, or are at the most risk. They are then registered with the Compassion program and we then resource and equip the church with the supplies to help give the kids developmental opportunities," Todd explained.
He said that includes life-saving medicine, food, clean water, and educational and spiritual supplies.
"Breaking the back of poverty is allowing children to reach their full potential, and instead of being victims of circumstance, they see those things that they know are right and decide to do something about them," Todd said.
He said he has already seen a change and has personally experienced the difference one can make in the life of another.
Compassion International is currently on the ground in at least eight African countries working through hundreds of churches.
To learn more about Compassion International, or to sponsor a child living in an AIDS affected area click here.
Click on the movie camera/video icon to view the segment as it aired on FOX21 News.
