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HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care for Children
Uganda was one of the first sub-Saharan African Countries to be affected by HIV/AIDS. Nearly two million adults and over 100,000 children are currently living with HIV and AIDS (MOH, 2003a. National Antiretroviral Treatment and Care Guidelines for Adult and Children).
It is estimated that there are more than 70,000 new infections every year in Uganda with children accounting for 16,000 of the total.
Objectives of the program
- To reduce the infection rates and suffering PLWAS in the districts of Kabarole, Kyenjojo and Kampala.
- To ensure reliable and accurate information about HIV/AIDS in schools and communities.
- To ensure availability, accessibility and Knowledge ABC strategy to the youth.
Activities of the program
- Training of staff and volunteers on HIV/AIDS in schools.
- Promotion of life skills such as craft making.
- Inter-school anti-AIDS debates
- Film and Drama show
- Radio programs
- Radio jingles and spots
- School based HIV/AIDS voluntary Counseling and testing.
Projects Implementation
In-school and out-of-School Youth HIV/AIDS Prevention Campaign; The project targets youth both in school and out of school with information on preventing HIV/AIDS. The project emphasizes Abstinence, Faithfulness (among the Married) and Condom use. It also encourages Voluntary Counseling and Testing as well as giving referrals. The project piloted in Kampala has so far reached more than 6 schools with an approximate population of 2100 in two months since the schools began February 2009. Key activities included; Distribution of IEC, Presentation on HIV/AIDS and its prevention, Counseling and referrals, Film shows, Distribution of condoms.
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Statistics on HIV/AIDS
Close to 40 million people living with HIV at the end of 2003, 70% liven in sub-Sahara Africa, and 60% of those infected in sub-Saharan Africa are women. Of them 2.1 million children under the age of 15 years living with HIV world wide, at least 90% live in sub-Saharan Africa. WHO estimated that in 2003 there were 630,000 new paediatric HIV infections. It is currently estimated that in developing countries 2,000 children are infected daily by their HIV-infected mothers. In Africa, more than 400,000 children under 15 died of AIDS in 2003 alone.
The impact of HIV/AIDS on children is multidimensional. Those living with HIV/AIDS are subject to stigmatization
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and discrimination when they develop AIDS-related diseases.
Those whose parents have HIV/AIDS face stigmatization, as well as the enormous psycho-social burden of caring for the sick adult(s), responsible for household income and food and care of young family members. Loss of one or both parents often result in a decline in economic resources, educational opportunities, good nutrition, etc. when extended family support is unavailable or insufficient, orphans may drop out of school, become caretakers for the sick relatives, engage in early marriages, have their assets stripped most eminent among child headed families. As a result of HIV/AIDS there are increasing number of Child-headed households and migration of children to urban centre turning into delinquents, sex workers street children or both.
In Uganda there are currently 1.8 million children who have lost one or both parents. Approximately 13% of children less than 18 years of age are orphans and over a half of all orphans are estimated to have lost one or both parents due to AIDS. The majority of orphans have lost their fathers who are the main breadwinners and are living with their mothers.
At Joy for Children, we believe sensitization as the best engine for transformation. We sensitize the community and young people on dangers of HIV/AIDS in additional to providing financial, material and psychosocial support to HIV/AIDS infected and affected households. We also advocate for increased access to ARVs for children and prevention of Mother –to- child Transmission (PMTCT).
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Joy for Children Uganda
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P.O Box 15383
Kampala (Uganda)
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Telephone:
+256 414 530 450
+256 414 380 417
+256 712 982 301
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Email:
info@joyforchildren.org
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