Today 12 Mio children are orphaned as a result of HIV/ Aids in Africa and even with the expansion of antiretroviral treatment access, it is estimated that by 2015, the number of orphaned children will still be overwhelmingly high. In Kenya around half of the orphans are orphans because of HIV/Aids, meaning without the Aids epedemic they would not be orphans. If the number still rises many of the children will grow up without any parental care or love. There are many problems these kids have to face.
The emotional impact is huge with many negative changes in life, which could lead into emotional trauma, depression or anger, what is way more common at Aids orphans than at other children. Also the impact on the household is often accompanied with serious consequences as acess to basic necessialties as shelter, food, clothing, health and education. The lack of income puts extra pressure on them. Espenses such as school uniforms or school fees can become major barriers.
Most of the children who lost one of their parents, still live in care of the surviving parent, but has way more responsibility for housework or caring for the ill/dying parent (a big risk normally, when one parent died because of Aids), what could easily result in the fact that there is no chance for the child to go to school anymore.
Another big problem is still stigmatisation. Children grieving for dying or dead parents are often stigmatised as well as the parents by the society. The social isolation experienced by those children often results in feelings of fear, shame and rejaction, that often sourrounds people affected by HIV/ Aids. Because of that stigma children may be deid acess to schooling or health care. Often children are HIV positive themselves.
One major problem is that HIV/ Aids is generating orphans so quickly that the classic family structures can no longer cope. The traditional savety nets are unravelling as increasing numbers of adults die from HIV-related illnesses. These traditional systems have been eroded by HIV, ’cause families and communities can’t handle the numbers of orphans. Normally half of all people affected by HIV/ Aids get sick before the age of 25 and die before they get 35, leaving behind a generation of children to be raised by grandparents, other relatives or end on the streets, left on their own.
So what to do? It seems like that education is the only way to avoid new infections with HIV. Better education leads to better questions and better questions lead to better understanding.
To get to know more about different projects and support visit Unicef and the Baobab Family.
Watch some pictures here.
