Jovita Ajuna
16 June 2008
opinion
Kampala — UGANDA'S relative success against HIV/AIDS has been a result of collective effort by the Government, donors, civil society, individuals and to some extent, the private sector. Interventions have emphasised a multisectoral approach to the control of HIV and mitigation of its effects. Much as we have been praised for fighting the scourge, we still need to focus on HIV-positive children.
The number of children affected has created what UNAIDS describes as a massive development catastrophe requiring an emergency response. It is shocking that some communities are not aware that HIV-positive children can live a normal life.
Fatuma, 16, lost her parents four years ago when she was in Primary Seven. She is HIV-positive, but has never received any care for HIV. She says her maternal aunt told her of her sero status. Fatuma lives with her grandmother in Katasiha, Hoima district. She is the eldest child in a family of seven, all of whom have lost their parents to AIDS.
Her grandmother is old and can no longer fend for the family. None of her grandchildren goes to school. Their house can easily be mistaken for a goats' pane. This applies to many other families that have lost their breadwinners to AIDS.
The epidemic has left a long trail of orphans. According to the Uganda National Household Survey for 2005/06, Uganda had 1,000,000 AIDS orphans, 110,000 of whom had HIV/AIDS. A big population of orphans and HIV-positive children undermines development goals. It impacts on human capital and hampers efforts to alleviate poverty, strains traditional coping mechanisms such as the extended family and highlights the need to provide additional support to these groups.
Children find themselves taking on the role of a parent, performing household chores, caring for siblings, farming and caring for ill or dying parents. Children who live through their parent's pain and illness frequently suffer from depression, stress and anxiety. Once the parent dies, children often endure grave social isolation while experiencing intense grief.
Treatment of HIV/AIDS in children is a challenge, especially in resource-constrained settings. One of the reasons for this difficulty is the cost of giving paediatric formulations, particularly syrups of anti-HIV drugs to children. In children with HIV, common illnesses are often more serious, chronic or difficult to treat.
Left untreated, 50% of children living with HIV/AIDS die before they reach their second birthday. If these children receive proper care, however, they can lead long and productive lives. The initiative by the President Yoweri Museveni to provide lopinavir/ritonavir tablet, known as Aluvia (R) in developing countries will improve the lives of the 110,000 children.
Focus should be on HIV-positive children by sensitising the health and community workers that these children can also live a normal life. For example, if a parent is accessing ARVs, the health worker should find out how many children this patient has, register them and have them checked for HIV so that they can also start treatment. Incase of death of the parents, these children should continue with treatment.
Leaders should support and participate in the five-year Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign launched in 2005 to help draw the world's attention to the impact of HIV and AIDS on children and young people. Influential leaders must speak out, consistently and strongly on behalf of orphans and vulnerable children.
Let this year be dedicated to orphans and children living with HIV/AIDS to increase awareness. We should ensure that vulnerable children go to school, have access to good health care, food, clothing and shelter. The elderly, caregivers, families and the communities that help these children should also be assisted.
The writer is a journalist
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