NPR's "Day to Day" Reports on Ugandan AIDS Orphans' Memory Books

NPR's "Day to Day" on Thursday reported on the contents of memory books that African parents who are dying of AIDS-related illnesses are creating for the children they will leave behind when they die ("Day to Day," NPR, 11/13). The memory books are a popular way for Africans to pass down family history and cultural traditions that historically are handed down in person through stories, songs and ceremonies. Parents can receive training on how to make the books, which can be a time-consuming task, especially for people who are suffering from chronic illness. Advocates of the books, an idea that was originally started by cancer patients in Britain, said that the books can help AIDS orphans face emotional issues after losing their parents (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 4/2). In the NPR segment, HIV/AIDS workers in Uganda describe memory books produced for the children they work with. The segment was produced by Barrett Golding of Hearing Voices, with interviews courtesy of Bush radio of South Africa and Sandra Rattley at the Africa Learning Channel. The segment includes comments from Abiola Tilley Gyado, senior health advisor for PLAN International ("Day to Day," NPR, 11/13). The full segment is available online in RealPlayer.

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