An Islamic Relief (IR) sponsored orphan has died of an AIDS-related illness at just nine years-old.
Mohammed Bathily, who lived in Mali, in Western Africa, died on Friday January 4 2008 and was buried the following day. His funeral was attended by IR staff.
Mohammed had been sponsored by IR for three years and was a popular character at the Mali office.
“Orphan Mohammed Bathily was well known by all IR country office staff and he would always greet them warmly when he came to the office for his regular medical consultation,” said a spokesman for IR Mali in an emailed statement.
Both of Mohammed’s parents died from AIDS-related illnesses; his father died when he was four months-old and his mother when he was three years-old.
Mohamed had spent the last six months of his life in and out of hospital as he battled a series of infections resulting from his HIV-positive status.
IR will continue to support Mohammed’s grandmother, who took care of Mohammed after the death of his parents.