STRATEGIES FOR PROVIDING CARE AND SUPPORT TO CHILDREN ORPHANED BY AIDS

As a result of the severe HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan countries s uch as Zimbabwe, where between 25-30% of the adult population are esti mated to be infected, there are a growing number of orphans requiring care and support. Traditionally, orphans have been absorbed within the extended family but this is becoming more difficult because of the la rge number of young adults dying. The burden of care and support is fa lling on the very young and the very old. A number of strategies have been introduced to provide this care and support. Institutions. though popular, are very expensive to run, have limited capacity and only re ally cater for physical needs. Interventions which simply react to tho se who present to them may not reach the most needy and may encourage dependency. Community-based orphan care has been identified as the bes t and most cost-effective way of caring for orphans. An example of a c ommunity-based orphan visiting programme is presented. In the last six months of 1996, the FOCUS programme's 88 volunteers made a total of 9 ,634 visits to 3,192 orphans in 798 families at an average cost of US$ 1.55 per visit. The Key elements of such programmes have been identifi ed. They need to be implemented by a community-based organization (CBO ) within a defined community. Volunteers should be selected from withi n the community. They need to be trained and supported as they enumera te orphans, identify the most needy and carry out regular visits. The volunteers should keep records of all their activities. These records can then be used as a basis for monitoring the programme. In order to cope with the increasing number of orphans in resource-poor settings l ike Zimbabwe, it is essential that such programmes be replicated and s caled up. This is not only an economic necessity but is also a way of providing appropriate and effective services to those who need them.