AEGiS-14IAC: The next generation: policy responses for children orphaned by and vulnerable to HIV.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

The next generation: policy responses for children orphaned by and vulnerable to HIV.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. LbPeG9059)

Peel S, Powell G
Pendulum Project, Cambridge MA, United States

ISSUES: Current and future increases in numbers of children orphaned by AIDS require policy measures to cost-effectively and meaningfully reach many children.

DESCRIPTION: Contrasting programming with policy: models of care, time frame, quality of care, scale and scalability.

ISSUES: Traditional responses to orphaning (family care, adoption, institutional care) cannot be adequately scaled up. Myriad new responses are very beneficial and cost-effective, such as community initiatives,(1) but are not easily scalable. Outside assistance to OVC is increasing but not at a scale to match the problem. In Uganda (1998-2000), 183 organizations provided assistance to about 4.8% (83,100) of orphans out of about 1.7 million.(2) Education is the most ubiquitous and readily scalable program available. Support for education may avert a social disaster.(3) It tops the list of children's requests, second to nutrition. School is a place of normality where orphans and their peers can acquire the skills that will help them overcome the obstacles strewn in their path by AIDS. It is usually a safe and stable environment where children can be children and grow progressively into adulthood.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Focus on education as the most cost-effective and scalable intervention for children orphaned by AIDS. AIDS demands drastic modifications in policy: 1. Innovations in teaching methods and formats; flexible access to enable education for all children, especially access for orphans who head households(3); and education for all 2. Massive commitment to increase the number of educators being trained in anticipation of the rising rates of mortality due to AIDS. (1) Foster, Getting Resources to the Base Supporting Community Orphan Initiatives, 2002 (2) Dieninger, Garcia, Subbarao, AIDS-induced Orphanhood as a Systemic Shock: Magnitude, Impact & Program Interventions in Africa, 2002 (3) Powell, Matshalaga Editorial BMJ 2002 (4) Kelly, personal communication, 2002

Keywords: AEGIS, Foster Home Care, Family Characteristics, HIV Infections, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Public Policy, HIV Seropositivity, Adoption, Family, Child Welfare, Organizations, Demography, Child Health Services, Child Care, Forecasting, Uganda, Africa, Case-Control Studies, Child, Human, Education

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