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The lonely life of a six-year-old boy

Ah Long carrying firewoods down the mountain path to his home

Ah Long carrying firewoods down the mountain path to his home

A six-year-old HIV carrier, has been living alone since his parents died of AIDS.

The boy, known as Ah Long, does his own washing, cooking, studying and he also rears some chicken. He lives in his parents' house at the foothill village of Malu Mountain in Liuzhou in Guangxi Province, China.

Ah Long has an 84-year-old grandmother, who visits him quite frequently and cooks for him. The granny has also planted some vegetables near the house for Ah Long.

Ah Long making a fire to cook dinner

Ah Long making a fire to cook dinner

Ah Long doesn't know what AIDS is.

All he knew was that his friends never want to be near him, doctors did not want to treat his wounds and his only family member – his granny – refused to live with him.

He was also rejected by the nearby primary school. The only companion the boy has is a dog called Lao Hei.

Ah Long playing with Lao Hei in front of their house

Ah Long playing with Lao Hei in front of their house

Due to his complicated family background, the Welfare Department has declined to take care of the boy. He receives 70 yuan (RM33) monthly subsistence allowance from the civil bureau but it is not enough.

After Ah Long's story was published in Chinese newspapers, a couple announced that they would adopt the boy. However, it has yet to materialise.

Ah Long studying in his room alone

Ah Long studying in his room alone

Source: Agencies
Photos: China Daily / ANN

Published 11th November 2010


Follow up: Lonely boy put up in charity home

Comments (13)

  • phot
    hows is the kid now? does the couple already adopt him? this child deserves to have a good life, its is not even his fault having this kind of illness, it is not even his choice to have this virus. HIV is not transmitted on direct contact, we can love and treat this kids like they were normal after all base on http://en.wikipedia.org (wikipedia)
    >HIV is transmitted by three main routes: sexual contact, exposure to infected body fluids or tissues, and from mother to child during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding (known as vertical transmission).There is no risk of acquiring HIV if exposed to FECES, NASAL SECRETIONS, SALIVA, SPUTUM, SWEAT, TEARS, URINE, or VOMIT unless these are contaminated with blood.[26] It is possible to be co-infected by more than one strain of HIV—a condition known as HIV superinfection.

    basically we don't have to discriminate them, instead give them love, because this kids are one of those kids who has been unfortunate having a long life, because it is ...
  • Shima
    Hi. Wuld like to get in touch wif the boy or the authorities responsible, as I've a serious lead that would get the boy out of his current circumstances. Please get in touch wif me via email. Thank you.
  • Gourete Rothenbury
    What can we do,I would adopt him.
  • andrew
    what a load of BS.
    People who believe this crap will believe anything.
  • Julia
    Hard to know if this is true but if it is, would love to be of assistance somehow.
  • John
    this broke my heart when i read this were can send him money i want to do something for him
  • Priscilla
    This 6 year old is just child,..!
  • Acutus Ptolemy
    This kid has been 6 years old for like three years come on do some fact checking!
  • Maria
    Is there anything we can do to bring about a better quality of life for this child? How about running a follow up article and story on the progress of his situation. After all, if a couple agreed to take responsibility for this child, then that couple needs to be monitored so they can be held bound to their word or be set free so another more loving individual or couple can step in and do what a loving heart demands--embrace the humanity within and see the need of this child as his or her own. I truly hope you follow up on this story and make the couple or individual that takes this child's life and entwines it with his/her own the next installment of your article. Don't let it go into the barrage of forgotten intentions.
  • teachermaya
    i feel for him, i wish that God be with him, and that he be always safe from harm,. I hope that he would be able to be adopted, i cried after reading this article.... :(
  • Ching
    Can someone please provide the public with an update of Ah Long's situation? Has he been adopted? Is he getting medical treatment? Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!
  • peter
    When I see such innocent child suffering for no fault of his, living all alone in this hypocrite world, it compels me to doubt the existance of God.
  • Abhishek Sayam
    Please let us know whether he is adopted or not. The child is just 6 years old. His care must be taken. He is HIV Positive, that doesn't mean he should be expelled from the society.
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