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Children affected by HIV/AIDS need community care
2008-10-07 11:56:33
By Peter Tindwa
It is very sad and disturbing to note from many regional and global reports that Africa, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania is leading in the infections of HIV/AIDS. Staff writer Peter Tindwa writing for the Association of Journalists Against AIDS in Tanzania (AJAAT) together with the United Nations Children`s Fund (UNICEF) sheds light on importance of interventions to support children affected by HIV/AIDS:
Available statistics from the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare through the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) show that Tanzania has at least 930,000 most vulnerable children, most of whom are affected by AIDS and living in households which are below the Tanzanian poverty line.
``Services provided to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIS as well as treatment of children affected with HIV have been significantly improved in the last three years.
By June, 2008, services for prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV were available in 2,474 health facilities where about 32,199 children received antiretroviral drugs and prophylaxis against HIV transmission,`` the Prime Minister, Mizengo Pinda, was quoted as saying in Dar es Salaam recently.
The world over has been aware that children are being affected by the incurable HIV pandemic while it is not their fault whatsoever.
``We, parents should therefore shoulder the blame and burden. The future of our countries and African continent in general depend on the future generations- the children…,`` said Premier Pinda when he opened a meeting on Moving towards Universal Access to Prevention, Care and Treatment for Children Affected by HIV and AIDS held in Dar es Salaam last month.
Children is Sub-Saharan Africa, including Tanzania are in peril because of AIDS, according to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
``We all have the obligation to raise, love and care as well as protect our children from all burdens of wars, conflicts and diseases in this case HIV/AIDS pandemic,`` Premier Pinda underscored.
Statistics indicate that in 2007, at least 75 per cent of global deaths from AIDS occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa.
``In some seriously affected countries more than one-third of under-five deaths are attributed to HIV/AIDS. Also AIDS kills parents and in most cases both parents resulting in orphanage problem,`` Pinda hinted.
It is estimated that there are 12 million children under the age of 18, who are orphaned by AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The HIV/AIDS in African continent has been aggravated by extreme poverty which is a cause and a result of incessant civil conflicts, environmental degradation, floods and drought, overstretched and inadequate medical facilities, lack of ARVs and qualified health personnel and appropriate social welfare structures.
``Stigma hurts. Because of AIDS, children are bullied, isolated and shut out of school. They are missing education. They are missing medicine.
Children are missing your love, care and protection. Join me and become a stigma buster. Unite for Children Unite Against AIDS,`` Premier Pinda quoted the UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Jackie Chan as saying.
Though Africa has been endowed with abundant natural resources, the continent has been currently loosing its manpower through preventable diseases.
``Only 15 per cent of orphaned children or made by AIDS in Africa are living in households that receive any kind of outside assistance…AIDS has a huge impact on all aspects of society, but orphanhood and living in family affected are not highly correlated with vulnerability…,`` said Jimmy Kolker, the Global Chief HIV/AIDS Section, UNICEF Newyork, US.
Global reports say that majority of African countries, especially those in Sub-Saharan Africa would not achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
MDG number 6 deals with combating HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis as well as other preventable and curable diseases.
``If concerted efforts are not taken to reverse the spread of HIV/AIDS, especially among women and children, the realisation of the MDGs in Africa remains an illusion.
The goals must be dealt with as HIV/AIDS becomes the catalytic factor in the high ratios of child and maternal mortalities,`` stated Pinda.
HIV/AIDS has become a social and economic catastrophe in the World. It has been creating more dependants - the orphans.
For example Tanzania government budget allocation for the fight against HIV/AIDS in 2007/08 was 23.1bn/- while the donors contributed 571.2bn/-.
In the current financial year, Tanzania government has allocated at least 21.0bn/- while donors are expected to contribute about 532.2bn/-.
The figures justify that the incurable scourge has both serious negative economic and social impacts.
``The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requires an unprecedented response. In particular it requires solidarity - between the health and sick, between rich and poor and above all, between richer and poorer nations.
We have 30 million orphans already. How many more do we have to get, to wake up,`` the former United Nations Secretary General, Dr Kofi Annan, was once quoted as saying.
Among ways of supporting families affected by HIV/AIS is to ensure that both parents and children receive treatment.
With treatment, parents stay healthier, live longer and are able to care for their children better. With treatment, children stay healthier, go to school and bring hope to their parents.
Provision of Antiretrovial drugs (ARVs) is of paramount importance to people, who have been infected with HIV.
Data of the World Bank show that at least 80 percent of rural African population lives on less than a single US dollar per day.
If a person lives on less than a single US dollar a day, it would be a nightmare for anyone to think that the same person would be able to afford ARVs, if he/she is infected.
``We must all agree that Africa, including Tanzania has played its noble role, including voluntary tests which have involved high rank leaders in the governments.
Our development partners have been very supportive to these efforts in a timely manner,`` Premier Pinda pointed out in Dar es Salaam recently.
Available data of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare show that by the end of July, 2008, a total of 326,342 AIDS patients in Tanzania had been enrolled to the National Care and Treatment Programme.
At least 165,976 enrolled AIDS patients were eligible for Antiretroviral Drugs and had already commenced ARVs treatment. Tanzania’s target is to reach 440,000 patients by 2010.
In Tanzania, concerted efforts to support orphans have been done by the government, private sector, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and community-based organizations.
Efforts have been directed to support orphanage centres.
Currently, In Tanzania there are at least 85 orphanage centres. One out of 85 centres is managed by the government, 28 by NGOs, 54 are managed by Faith-Based Organisations while the remaining two are under private sector.
``Social services must be available and ability of poor families or AIDS affected ones should be considered not just on money but stigma, quality of service providers, availability care and alternative care,`` observed Kolker.
However, deliberate steps should be taken to develop appropriate laws and policies that would support families and communities in looking after orphans.
It is therefore, important to understand that interventions to support children affected by HIV/AIDS are only effective when they form part of strong health, education and social welfare systems, reaching needy communities.
Strengthening communities and families is crucial to every aspect of a child-centred approach to AIDS.
Both stigma and discrimination against children affected by AIDS continue to be major obstacles and should thus, be addressed in all aspects of the response to the scourge.
``Did you know a child is orphaned by AIDS every 15 seconds? Millions of children are going it alone.
Missing their childhood. Missing their mother and father. AIDS is devastating families around the Globe.
Children are missing your support. Unite for children. Unite Against AIDS,`` says UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador-cum- UNDP Ambassador Danny Glover.
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