UNGASS targeted 2005 to implement policies, strategies to strengthen capacities to provide a supportive environment for AIDS orphans and children, ensuring them access to education and health services on equal basis with other children.
The overall situation of children’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS is complex and needs to be analysed within specific country and local contexts. Analysis of household surveys in 36 countries found that in many countries children who are orphaned are worse off than other children in relation to certain indicators of child development – nutritional status, school attendance, sex debut – but in other countries they are equally well or better off. Some of this inconsistency can be explained by the situational context. In countries with high levels of overall school attendance nearly the same percentage of both orphans and non- orphans attended school, but in countries with lower levels of school attendance many more countries showed large disparities between orphans and non- orphans.
In 18 countries where household surveys were conducted between 2005 and 2007, the proportion of orphans and vulnerable children whose household received basic external support ranged between 1 percent in Sierra Leone and 41 percent in Swaziland, with a median value of 12 percent. Such support included education assistance, medical care, clothing, financial support and psychosocial services. The goal of Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS is to reach 80 percent of children in need with services by 2010.
The shift towards inclusive programming to help all vulnerable children, including those directly affected by AIDS, is having an impact. The growing call for a broader, more inclusive definition of vulnerability is reflected in many countries’ National Plans of Action ( NPAs) in Eastern Africa. In Zimbabwe, a new programme of support to the National Plan of Action for Orphans and other vulnerable children accepts a wide definition of vulnerability beyond orphanhood and due to AIDS.
National – level responses for orphans and their vulnerable children have been increasing since the 1990s, and nearly 50 countries globally are developing some type of AIDS- sensitive response. 32 countries have been estimated to developed or finalized NPAs with benefits for orphans and vulnerable children. Countries of Eastern and Southern Africa have generally made the most progress in developing and implementing national responses, while programming for orphans and vulnerable children is relatively new in West and Central Africa. East Asia and Pacific Regions are in the process of drafting national plans. In South Asia, India was the first country to establish a national response to children affected by HIV/AIDS.
However, the process of developing NPAs has generally been slow, and implementation at scale is lacking. The often limited capacity of governments and implementing partners and lengthy periods for plan development- three to seven years or more – are major challenges. Insufficient resources for implementing NPAs are reflected in levels of social assistance provided to vulnerable households. Efforts and investments should be directed towards increasing access to basic services, ensuring appropriate alternative care, and providing social support and protection from abuse and neglect.
The overall situation of children’s vulnerability to HIV/AIDS is complex and needs to be analysed within specific country and local contexts. Analysis of household surveys in 36 countries found that in many countries children who are orphaned are worse off than other children in relation to certain indicators of child development – nutritional status, school attendance, sex debut – but in other countries they are equally well or better off. Some of this inconsistency can be explained by the situational context. In countries with high levels of overall school attendance nearly the same percentage of both orphans and non- orphans attended school, but in countries with lower levels of school attendance many more countries showed large disparities between orphans and non- orphans.
In 18 countries where household surveys were conducted between 2005 and 2007, the proportion of orphans and vulnerable children whose household received basic external support ranged between 1 percent in Sierra Leone and 41 percent in Swaziland, with a median value of 12 percent. Such support included education assistance, medical care, clothing, financial support and psychosocial services. The goal of Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS is to reach 80 percent of children in need with services by 2010.
The shift towards inclusive programming to help all vulnerable children, including those directly affected by AIDS, is having an impact. The growing call for a broader, more inclusive definition of vulnerability is reflected in many countries’ National Plans of Action ( NPAs) in Eastern Africa. In Zimbabwe, a new programme of support to the National Plan of Action for Orphans and other vulnerable children accepts a wide definition of vulnerability beyond orphanhood and due to AIDS.
National – level responses for orphans and their vulnerable children have been increasing since the 1990s, and nearly 50 countries globally are developing some type of AIDS- sensitive response. 32 countries have been estimated to developed or finalized NPAs with benefits for orphans and vulnerable children. Countries of Eastern and Southern Africa have generally made the most progress in developing and implementing national responses, while programming for orphans and vulnerable children is relatively new in West and Central Africa. East Asia and Pacific Regions are in the process of drafting national plans. In South Asia, India was the first country to establish a national response to children affected by HIV/AIDS.
However, the process of developing NPAs has generally been slow, and implementation at scale is lacking. The often limited capacity of governments and implementing partners and lengthy periods for plan development- three to seven years or more – are major challenges. Insufficient resources for implementing NPAs are reflected in levels of social assistance provided to vulnerable households. Efforts and investments should be directed towards increasing access to basic services, ensuring appropriate alternative care, and providing social support and protection from abuse and neglect.
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