|
Back to Index
Red
Cross Red Crescent urges support to protect children made vulnerable
by AIDS
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent
Societies (IFRC)
June 15,
2005
The International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has expressed
concern about the future viability of some states in Southern Africa
if all stakeholders do not rally to protect and support orphans
and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. The International
Federation voiced its concern a day before the Day of the African
Child, as it announced a massive scaling up of its activities to
support these vulnerable children.
"As the
world’s largest humanitarian organisation, we are well-placed to
speak for these voiceless children and advocate for their right
to a better future. As adults, we have a moral obligation to take
care of our children and to give them a minimum decent life,"
said Mrs Emma Kundishora, of the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society, one
of ten national Red Cross societies involved in the campaign, launched
in Johannesburg today under the theme: "Our Children, Our Future."
She underscored
the need for all stakeholders, especially the private sector, governments
and other humanitarian organisations to play a more active role
in ensuring that orphans and children made vulnerable by the HIV
/ AIDS pandemic have access to basic services such as food, health,
education, shelter, clothing and protection, to give the entire
region a brighter future.
"A silent
tsunami is wiping away an entire generation, leaving millions of
children at risk. It is imperative for all stakeholders to come
together in support of this cause. If we do not do something today,
we will lose the administrators, business leaders, workers and customers
of tomorrow. We have to start investing in these children now,"
she added.
The secretaries
general of the ten Red Cross societies in southern Africa have decided
to make use of their huge grassroots network of community-based
volunteers to reach out to these children and scale up existing
activities, which include prevention, advocacy, support and home-based
care for those infected and affected. Under the new regional strategy
for orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS,
the Red Cross is calling for a more co-ordinated effort which attempts
to promote community capacity in responding to the needs of these
children.
The pandemic
has had devastating effects on the lives of children in sub-Saharan
Africa; with more than 12 million children there having lost one
or both parents to AIDS, a figure that is expected to double by
2010. Millions more are made vulnerable in other ways: poverty;
dropping out of school; vulnerability to abuse and prostitution.
"Some families
are now comprised of only children, whilst in other house holds,
children have to nurse their sick and dying parents. This terrible
situation leaves children emotionally distressed as death painfully
takes away their parents right in front of their eyes," said
Jennifer Inger, the International Federation’s Regional HIV and
AIDS delegate in southern Africa.
"In severely
affected communities, the epidemic affects all aspects of community
life – agriculture, economic and social structures, business, health
and education, All this in turn has a huge impact on children and
increases their vulnerability," she added.
Visit the IFRC
fact sheet
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
