Hewitt
Claude Mills, Staff Reporter
ADELLA DOEMAN, who earlier this year publicly shared her story of contracting HIV/AIDS after exchanging sexual favours for $1,000, was finally buried in Knockalva Baptist Church in Hanover last Sunday.
The burial came after the family had spent three weeks asking for assistance before the intervention of Madden's Funeral Home and media personality Christine Hewitt.
Doeman, who was 35, had spent her last few months at the AIDS hospice run by the Good Shepherd Foundation, a Roman Catholic charity in Montego Bay.
"She was buried in the family plot, it was a nice ceremony, really nice programme," Donnette Doeman, Adella's older sister, said.
In March, Adella told the media how she became a sex worker and contracted HIV. She revealed her story in an effort to assist others to make more careful sexual choices, and to fight the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV.
FIVE CHILDREN
With Adella's body interred, the family is now focusing its attention on Adella's five children - Kemo, 18, Ken, 15, Katarra, nine, Keniesha, seven, and Kadine, five, who desperately need help.
"I really love these children and want to see the best for them ... but I am struggling," said Donnette, who was her sister's primary caregiver.
Adella's public admissions about her HIV status had serious repercussions for the family, and the subsequent discrimination experienced by her teenage sons in the community left them traumatised. In the last two years, the family was almost ripped apart.
"The second son turned his back on his mother because of the embarrassment, people tease him about it, and he cussed her off, and withdrew into himself, but before the end, he began to look for her. However, the first son, Kemo, really rallied around her, I would do anything for that boy," Ms. Doeman said.
The children currently live with their grand-aunt in Westmoreland.
"She cannot support them sufficiently," Ms. Doeman said.
Christine Hewitt, who first brought Doeman's story to light, had been using her non-governmental organisation, Woman Chapter 7, to raise funds to defray expenses for Adelle's upkeep while the latter was in the hospice.
Hewitt plans to do a show called 'Dons and Diamonds' on August 7 in Claremont, St. Ann, where the proceeds will go towards maintaining Doeman's five children, and other women living with HIV.
"I am concerned about the lack of resources that are available to people living with HIV/AIDS. I'd like to thank Mr. Madden for his assistance, not charging for 14 days of storage...but there are five children to go back to school. What is going to happen to these children? We have to do something," Ms. Hewitt said.
Names changed
To help
Persons wishing to help can make a contribution to Prudence Doeman, at account number 906282 at ScotiaBank in Claremont, St Ann. For further information please call 972-3300 or 385-5147.
