This has no headline
May 18, 2005
May 7 was World AIDS Orphans Day. June 16 is the Day of the African Child. On this day, Uganda will launch its National Orphans and other Vulnerable Children’s Policy.
May 7 was World AIDS Orphans Day. June 16 is the Day of the African Child. On this day, Uganda will launch its National Orphans and other Vulnerable Children’s Policy. This is a comprehensive policy that will guide Uganda’s national response to orphans and other vulnerable children’s crises.
Uganda has about two million orphans. One of the major causes of orphanhood is HIV/AIDS. The AIDS scourge has overburdened families; Uganda’s dependency ratio stands at 1:12.
Child and elderly-headed households gave visibility to the orphan crisis prompting responses including the provision of psychosocial support, income generating activities, food, education, home-based care, will writing, etc. Services targeting orphans cover 91% of the districts (51/56). Through 411 outlets, these families receive educational, psychosocial and material support.
To get this far, Uganda has kept the plight of orphans and vulnerable children on its political, social and economic agenda. It has addressed the plight of orphans in over-arching policy frameworks, including the HIV/AIDS National Strategic Framework, the Poverty Eradication Action Plan and the soon-to-be-launched orphans’ policy. This provides a gateway for funding to scale up interventions.
Based on good practice, Uganda continues to solicit financial support for orphans. These efforts are supported by piggybacking the plight of orphans on Uganda’s success story in the fight against HIV/AIDS and maintaining international good will through adopting the Millennium Development Goals and commitments made in the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS.
Many involved in supporting these children are engaged in sharing what works, why and how. Community and religious organisations have given invaluable services to children at the grassroots. Participatory approaches, involvement of key actors at all levels, the wider understanding of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, popular and political leadership have enabled services to be scaled up.
Unfortunately the household socio-economic survey of 2004 shows that child-headed and elderly-headed households remain the poorest. Orphans are more likely to drop out of school and are more exposed to risky lifestyle. Inequity in service delivery is evident with some districts having no such services. Coordination is a major challenge faced by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. Government efforts to set up a coordination structure need to be supported by all key actors in service delivery.
Many community-based organisations need capacity building support in order to deliver quality services effectively.
Uganda should remain committed to this policy. After all, hope never runs dry. Happy celebrations.
The writer is the country programme manager, Hope for African Children Initiative Uganda
Uganda has about two million orphans. One of the major causes of orphanhood is HIV/AIDS. The AIDS scourge has overburdened families; Uganda’s dependency ratio stands at 1:12.
Child and elderly-headed households gave visibility to the orphan crisis prompting responses including the provision of psychosocial support, income generating activities, food, education, home-based care, will writing, etc. Services targeting orphans cover 91% of the districts (51/56). Through 411 outlets, these families receive educational, psychosocial and material support.
To get this far, Uganda has kept the plight of orphans and vulnerable children on its political, social and economic agenda. It has addressed the plight of orphans in over-arching policy frameworks, including the HIV/AIDS National Strategic Framework, the Poverty Eradication Action Plan and the soon-to-be-launched orphans’ policy. This provides a gateway for funding to scale up interventions.
Based on good practice, Uganda continues to solicit financial support for orphans. These efforts are supported by piggybacking the plight of orphans on Uganda’s success story in the fight against HIV/AIDS and maintaining international good will through adopting the Millennium Development Goals and commitments made in the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS.
Many involved in supporting these children are engaged in sharing what works, why and how. Community and religious organisations have given invaluable services to children at the grassroots. Participatory approaches, involvement of key actors at all levels, the wider understanding of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, popular and political leadership have enabled services to be scaled up.
Unfortunately the household socio-economic survey of 2004 shows that child-headed and elderly-headed households remain the poorest. Orphans are more likely to drop out of school and are more exposed to risky lifestyle. Inequity in service delivery is evident with some districts having no such services. Coordination is a major challenge faced by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development. Government efforts to set up a coordination structure need to be supported by all key actors in service delivery.
Many community-based organisations need capacity building support in order to deliver quality services effectively.
Uganda should remain committed to this policy. After all, hope never runs dry. Happy celebrations.
The writer is the country programme manager, Hope for African Children Initiative Uganda