Precious' story
When you're poorly it's easy to pop to the local chemist for medicine that will make you better. But what if you had to travel a long way to get what you needed?
Precious, 9, lives in Zambia, a country in Southern Africa. Precious' parents died when she was only two so she now lives with her uncle, who's a farmer, and her 11 cousins.
Precious, 9, lives in Zambia, a country in Southern Africa. Precious' parents died when she was only two so she now lives with her uncle, who's a farmer, and her 11 cousins. Unfortunately Precious has a life-threatening illness called HIV. She needs to take medicines and food supplements every day to stay healthy. But she lives on a farm 25 kilometres from town so it’s a long journey to pick up what she needs. Her uncle doesn’t own a car and there are no buses or taxis either.
Favourite cousin
Luckily Precious' cousin Ada helps by taking her to town on the back of his bicycle. 'Ada is my favourite cousin,' she says. 'He's the one who escorts me when I go to get my drugs.'
Precious and Ada on the bicycle
Precious and Ada on the bicycle Staying healthy
Precious loves school and hates to miss it when she’s ill. 'I go to school every day. I like all my subjects - maths the most.' She remembers the last time she couldn't go: 'I had chest pains and was coughing a lot. I missed writing.'
Precious knows it's really important to stay healthy. 'I was told not to forget to take my medication,' she says.
Carers from a group called ADL now visit Precious twice a month at home to make sure she's healthy and happy. 'I like them because I know when they come and visit me they will give me advice about my health' 
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