Public policies and the orphans of AIDS in Africa

Abstract


International help to care for Africa's orphans is essential not only for their immediate welfare but also to protect the long term prosperity of these countries. A researcher in child health and former Ugandan government peace minister assess how to make the best use of resources.
The AIDS epidemic is wreaking havoc in sub-Saharan Africa. The HIV seroprevalence among young adults is nearly 40% in some countries,1 and millions of children have lost their parents. Although the extended family can alleviate these children's plight, it is unrealistic to assume that the children can escape from poverty without massive support from agencies such as the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development. We visited Ethiopia, Malawi, and Tanzania in March 2002 as consultants to the World Bank to assess the ongoing programmes and to suggest strategies for improving child welfare. This article outlines our findings from visiting over 20 non-governmental organisations and national ministries responsible for caring for orphans of AIDS. 



Alok Bhargava Betty Bigombe | source: The BMJ 573 |
Categories: Protection Health Care


Other articles

Childhood Parental Loss and Adult Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Function

Background: Several decades of research link childhood parental loss with risk for major depression and other forms of psychopathology.…

Read more

Orphanages as sites of modern slavery

This chapter argues that the desire of volunteers and visitors to assist orphans through orphanage tourism creates a demand…

Read more

Orphan care: the role of the extended family in northern Uganda

This paper examines the traditional role of the extended family in orphan care in northern Uganda. The extended family provides…

Read more

Nutritional Assessment of under Five years Children in Mygoma Orphanage Home, Sudan

In this issue of the journal various papers from the Region have discussed topics from diabetes to nutrition to hernia and…

Read more