A mother and child in hospital Namibe, Angola.…
In a world of HIV/Aids numerous children have lost their parents. Many of them take shelter with grandparents, brothers and sisters or uncles and aunts. However, not all of them are lucky enough to do so: frequently they are far less sheltered and protected than we would hope. I have read reports of children, who are abused, neglected or deprived from their inheritance by the extended family. This is an extract of a report by Stefan Paquette Director Overseas Programmes, SOS Children's Villages Canada, it gives an in depth look at the was HIV/AIDS is affecting people all over the world:
- Lisa
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A mother and child in hospital Namibe, Angola.
In a world of HIV/Aids numerous children have lost their parents. Many of them take shelter with grandparents, brothers and sisters or uncles and aunts. However, not all of them are lucky enough to do so: frequently they are far less sheltered and protected than we would hope. I have read reports of children, who are abused, neglected or deprived from their inheritance by the extended family. This is an extract of a report by Stefan Paquette Director Overseas Programmes, SOS Children's Villages Canada, it gives an in depth look at the was HIV/AIDS is affecting people:
What is being done, what needs to be done to help children affected by the HIV/Aids pandemic? Despite all the adversities described: Living within the extended family has been identified as the most realistic strategy to meet the needs of the child. The "Framework for the Protection, Care and Support of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Living in a World of HIV and Aids ", a UN catalogue of interventions for orphans and vulnerable children, agrees with this statement. It is also the strategy endorsed by SOS through its family support.
The issue is not whether the extended family will take its orphaned children in, but what quality of care they will give. In order to deal with this issue and develop realistic solutions, we must first come to terms with the fact that discrimination and stigma associated to HIV/Aids does exist within families.
The SOS Children's Village Family support is realistic in basing efforts on this fact, thus providing help for the affected families.
Addressing the impact of HIV/Aids discrimination and stigma within families can be further complemented through the family support community component. Building awareness, encouraging discussions and promoting active measures, including monitoring of neglect and abuse, helps to protect more children. Orphans cared for by relatives often feel that they have no other place to go. They are aware of their dependency and will suffer in silence for fear of being abandoned. It is long overdue to start speaking out about HIV/Aids discrimination and stigma within families so that orphans and other vulnerable children feel safe to speak out.
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