Gaia: THE CHILDREN OF AFRICA - Children and HIV/AIDS

HIV & AIDS in Africa

http://nbkmoses.gaia.com — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 22:10:11 GMT

Sub-Saharan Africa is more heavily affected by HIV and AIDS than any other region of the world. An estimated 22.5 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2007 and approximately 1.7 million additional people were infected with HIV during that year. In just the past year, the AIDS epidemic in Africa has claimed the lives of an estimated 1.6 million people in this region. More than eleven million children have been orphaned by AIDS.1 The extent of the AIDS crisis is only now becoming clear in many African countries, as increasing numbers of people with HIV are becoming ill. In the absence of massively expanded prevention, treatment and care efforts, it is expected that the AIDS death toll in sub-Saharan Africa will continue to rise. This means that impact of the AIDS epidemic on these societies will be felt most strongly in the course of the next ten years and beyond. Its social and economic consequences are already widely felt, not only in the health sector but also in education, industry, agriculture, transport, human resources and the economy in general. How are different countries in Africa affected? Mother and child at Nsanje district hospital in Malawi, both HIV+ Both HIV prevalence rates and the numbers of people dying from AIDS vary greatly between African countries. In Somalia and Senegal the HIV prevalence is under 1% of the adult population, whereas in South Africa and Zambia around 15-20% of adults are infected with HIV. In four southern African countries, the national adult HIV prevalence rate has risen higher than was thought possible and now exceeds 20%. These countries are Botswana (24.1%), Lesotho (23.2%), Swaziland (33.4%) and Zimbabwe (20.1%). West Africa has been less affected by AIDS, but the HIV prevalence rates in some countries are creeping up. HIV prevalence is estimated to exceed 5% in Cameroon (5.4%), Côte d'Ivoire (7.1%) and Gabon (7.9%). Until recently the national HIV prevalence rate has remained relatively low in Nigeria, the most populous country in sub-Saharan Africa. The rate has grown slowly from below 2% in 1993 to 3.9% in 2005. But some states in Nigeria are already experiencing HIV infection rates as high as those now found in Cameroon. Already around 2.9 million Nigerians are estimated to be living with HIV. Adult HIV prevalence in East Africa exceeds 6% in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. Trends in Africa's AIDS epidemic Large variations exist between the patterns of the AIDS epidemic in different countries in Africa. In some places, the HIV prevalence is still growing. In others the HIV prevalence appears to have stabilised and in a few African nations - such as Kenya and Zimbabwe - declines appear to be under way, probably in part due to effective prevention campaigns. Others countries face a growing danger of explosive growth. The sharp rise in HIV prevalence among pregnant women in Cameroon (more than doubling to over 11% among those aged 20-24 between 1998 and 2000) shows how suddenly the epidemic can surge. Overall, rates of new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa appear to have peaked in the late 1990s, and HIV prevalence seems to have declined slightly, although it remains at an extremely high level. Stabilisation of HIV prevalence occurs when the rate of new HIV infections is equalled by the AIDS death rate among the infected population. This means that a country with a stable but very high prevalence must be suffering a very high number of AIDS deaths each year. Although prevalence has declined, the number of Africans living with HIV is rising due to general population Source:http://www.avert.org/aafrica.htm

THE ISSUES

http://nbkmoses.gaia.com — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:42:46 GMT

The Children Of Africa:

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS has left the world in disarray. This deadly epidemic is the worlds greatest social, medical and economic crisis and is devastating millions of lives in its path. In the wake of this virus are multitudes of widows and orphaned children who are destitute, without hope or purpose. According to a UN report, there will be 50 million AIDS orphaned children by 2010. This estimation paints an extremely bleak picture for the children of Africa.

There is hope. There is an answer. This hope is found in the radical outpouring of love through the revived church of the Lord Jesus Christ "one by one" these children can be reached. Watoto has been part of this answer for over a decade and has witnessed dynamic changes and tremendous results.

The War Affected Children of Northern Uganda:
CHILD SOLDIERS
Since 1987 rebel leader, Joseph Kony, has reigned with terror over Gulu (which means "heaven"), in Northern Uganda. In the name of the Lord, he has been fulfilling a "religious mandate" to overthrow the Ugandan government under the guise of the 10 Commandments. For 20 years he has led the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) on a spiritual crusade of murder, mutilation, abduction and destruction of whole communities. Unimaginable atrocities have been inflicted on a whole generation of innocent children.

More than 30,000 children have been stolen from their homes to join the LRA, where they are brainwashed and forced to serve as a part of the militia. These children, some as young as 8 years, are forced to join in on the horrific acts that destruct their own families and communities. In addition to being beaten and raped, these children also have to participate in the killing of the children who try to escape from the LRA. Often little girls are sold as sex slaves to warlords, traded or even given as gifts for arms. Alarmingly, children make up over 80% of the LRA.

CHILD MOTHERS
Female abductees are often forced into sexual servitude, becoming the de facto "wives" of senior LRA commanders. "Girl children are offered as rewards to senior officers" says Chulho Hyun, UNICEF Communication officer in Uganda. "The result is that a significant number of returnees are child mothers"

UNICEF launched the State of the Worlds Children 2005 report in the province of Gulu as a way to focus on the terrible dilemma facing child mothers. Gulu is one of the eight provinces embroiled in the civil war. Of 840 recently returned abductees, thirty percent are estimated to have given birth to children as a result of their ordeal.

These young mothers find themselves stigmatized and rejected often by their immediate families. Their chances of re-marrying are small and many abandon their babies. They must also live with the fear that their so-called husbands will return to claim them.

PARENTLESS GENERATION
Most frightening is the state of the future leaders of these communities. Often cited as a generation of parentless children, the youth of Northern Uganda are some of the most affected by war. Motherless girls are raped and become pregnant, while fatherless boys continue to stumble out of the jungles, shell-shocked, named murderers by their communities from where they were abducted years before. The immense number of AIDS orphans, ex child soldiers and sex slaves is as daunting as their courage to go on.

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE CAMP
As this de-fragmentation of families and communities takes place, up to 1 million people have been forced to live in squalid camps where the lack of food, clean water and sanitation is critical. Overcrowding and impoverishment are pertinent in these camps, while HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other life-threatening diseases plague the people. As these makeshift villages begin to assume an air of permanence, Northern Uganda faces new struggles.

When abductees eventually return home, their problems are not over. Most, however, do not return to their displaced families, because of the atrocities they have committed, they are labelled as murderers. Much needs to be done to help the Acholi (the people of Gulu) build a sustainable society.

THE ISSUES

http://nbkmoses.gaia.com — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:39:47 GMT

The Children Of Africa:HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS has left the world in disarray. This deadly epidemic is the worlds greatest social, medical and economic crisis and is devastating millions of lives in its path. In the wake of this virus are multitudes of widows and orphaned children who are destitute, without hope or purpose. According to a UN report, there will be 50 million AIDS orphaned children by 2010. This estimation paints an extremely bleak picture for the children of Africa.

There is hope. There is an answer. This hope is found in the radical outpouring of love through the revived church of the Lord Jesus Christ "one by one" these children can be reached. Watoto has been part of this answer for over a decade and has witnessed dynamic changes and tremendous results.

The War Affected Children of Northern Uganda:
CHILD SOLDIERS
Since 1987 rebel leader, Joseph Kony, has reigned with terror over Gulu (which means "heaven"), in Northern Uganda. In the name of the Lord, he has been fulfilling a "religious mandate" to overthrow the Ugandan government under the guise of the 10 Commandments. For 20 years he has led the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) on a spiritual crusade of murder, mutilation, abduction and destruction of whole communities. Unimaginable atrocities have been inflicted on a whole generation of innocent children.

More than 30,000 children have been stolen from their homes to join the LRA, where they are brainwashed and forced to serve as a part of the militia. These children, some as young as 8 years, are forced to join in on the horrific acts that destruct their own families and communities. In addition to being beaten and raped, these children also have to participate in the killing of the children who try to escape from the LRA. Often little girls are sold as sex slaves to warlords, traded or even given as gifts for arms. Alarmingly, children make up over 80% of the LRA.

CHILD MOTHERS
Female abductees are often forced into sexual servitude, becoming the de facto "wives" of senior LRA commanders. "Girl children are offered as rewards to senior officers" says Chulho Hyun, UNICEF Communication officer in Uganda. "The result is that a significant number of returnees are child mothers"

UNICEF launched the State of the Worlds Children 2005 report in the province of Gulu as a way to focus on the terrible dilemma facing child mothers. Gulu is one of the eight provinces embroiled in the civil war. Of 840 recently returned abductees, thirty percent are estimated to have given birth to children as a result of their ordeal.

These young mothers find themselves stigmatized and rejected often by their immediate families. Their chances of re-marrying are small and many abandon their babies. They must also live with the fear that their so-called husbands will return to claim them.

PARENTLESS GENERATION
Most frightening is the state of the future leaders of these communities. Often cited as a generation of parentless children, the youth of Northern Uganda are some of the most affected by war. Motherless girls are raped and become pregnant, while fatherless boys continue to stumble out of the jungles, shell-shocked, named murderers by their communities from where they were abducted years before. The immense number of AIDS orphans, ex child soldiers and sex slaves is as daunting as their courage to go on.

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE CAMP
As this de-fragmentation of families and communities takes place, up to 1 million people have been forced to live in squalid camps where the lack of food, clean water and sanitation is critical. Overcrowding and impoverishment are pertinent in these camps, while HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other life-threatening diseases plague the people. As these makeshift villages begin to assume an air of permanence, Northern Uganda faces new struggles.

When abductees eventually return home, their problems are not over. Most, however, do not return to their displaced families, because of the atrocities they have committed, they are labelled as murderers. Much needs to be done to help the Acholi (the people of Gulu) build a sustainable society.

THE ISSUES

http://nbkmoses.gaia.com — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:35:51 GMT

The Children Of Africa:HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS has left the world in disarray. This deadly epidemic is the worlds greatest social, medical and economic crisis and is devastating millions of lives in its path. In the wake of this virus are multitudes of widows and orphaned children who are destitute, without hope or purpose. According to a UN report, there will be 50 million AIDS orphaned children by 2010. This estimation paints an extremely bleak picture for the children of Africa.

There is hope. There is an answer. This hope is found in the radical outpouring of love through the revived church of the Lord Jesus Christ "one by one" these children can be reached. Watoto has been part of this answer for over a decade and has witnessed dynamic changes and tremendous results.

The War Affected Children of Northern Uganda:
CHILD SOLDIERS
Since 1987 rebel leader, Joseph Kony, has reigned with terror over Gulu (which means "heaven"), in Northern Uganda. In the name of the Lord, he has been fulfilling a "religious mandate" to overthrow the Ugandan government under the guise of the 10 Commandments. For 20 years he has led the Lords Resistance Army (LRA) on a spiritual crusade of murder, mutilation, abduction and destruction of whole communities. Unimaginable atrocities have been inflicted on a whole generation of innocent children.

More than 30,000 children have been stolen from their homes to join the LRA, where they are brainwashed and forced to serve as a part of the militia. These children, some as young as 8 years, are forced to join in on the horrific acts that destruct their own families and communities. In addition to being beaten and raped, these children also have to participate in the killing of the children who try to escape from the LRA. Often little girls are sold as sex slaves to warlords, traded or even given as gifts for arms. Alarmingly, children make up over 80% of the LRA.

CHILD MOTHERS
Female abductees are often forced into sexual servitude, becoming the de facto "wives" of senior LRA commanders. "Girl children are offered as rewards to senior officers" says Chulho Hyun, UNICEF Communication officer in Uganda. "The result is that a significant number of returnees are child mothers"

UNICEF launched the State of the Worlds Children 2005 report in the province of Gulu as a way to focus on the terrible dilemma facing child mothers. Gulu is one of the eight provinces embroiled in the civil war. Of 840 recently returned abductees, thirty percent are estimated to have given birth to children as a result of their ordeal.

These young mothers find themselves stigmatized and rejected often by their immediate families. Their chances of re-marrying are small and many abandon their babies. They must also live with the fear that their so-called husbands will return to claim them.

PARENTLESS GENERATION
Most frightening is the state of the future leaders of these communities. Often cited as a generation of parentless children, the youth of Northern Uganda are some of the most affected by war. Motherless girls are raped and become pregnant, while fatherless boys continue to stumble out of the jungles, shell-shocked, named murderers by their communities from where they were abducted years before. The immense number of AIDS orphans, ex child soldiers and sex slaves is as daunting as their courage to go on.

INTERNALLY DISPLACED PEOPLE CAMP
As this de-fragmentation of families and communities takes place, up to 1 million people have been forced to live in squalid camps where the lack of food, clean water and sanitation is critical. Overcrowding and impoverishment are pertinent in these camps, while HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other life-threatening diseases plague the people. As these makeshift villages begin to assume an air of permanence, Northern Uganda faces new struggles.

When abductees eventually return home, their problems are not over. Most, however, do not return to their displaced families, because of the atrocities they have committed, they are labelled as murderers. Much needs to be done to help the Acholi (the people of Gulu) build a sustainable society.

The need in Uganda

http://nbkmoses.gaia.com — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:16:05 GMT

Uganda has endured brutal dictators, the scourge of civil war and the deadly AIDS epidemic. An estimated 2 million children in Uganda have been orphaned by these calamities, 880,000* of them as a result of AIDS alone. (*UNAIDS stats)

The country is still reeling from a past of corruption, brutality and oppression. The economy is improving, but still struggling. Social services are scarce, water and sanitation systems are unavailable to most, and poverty and disease are prevalent. Every day, scores of children are orphaned and abandoned in the streets. The government is not equipped to provide care for them. Private babies homes and adoption centers can't keep up and are themselves unable to provide long term care a child. This is the reality that is Uganda. The situation is dire. The need is great. But the future is changing!

Joy for Children Uganda was born out of this need. It is addressing this crisis and is providing hope for the nation.

Libya details medic release deal

http://nbkmoses.gaia.com — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 14:46:50 GMT

Libya's PM gave details of the agreement signed with the EU Libya has given details about the deal that led to the release of six foreign medics, found guilty of deliberately infecting 438 children with HIV/Aids. It said backing for a fund for the victims had come mainly from the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Qatar. The Libyan PM strongly condemned Bulgaria for pardoning the medics - who always protested their innocence - as soon as they arrived in the country. The six were freed last week after Libya reached a deal with the EU. Libyan officials said on Saturday they had sent a memo to the Arab League calling for action against Sofia as well as a protest to the EU over the pardoning. The authorities said that Bulgaria was in violation of international law and their bilateral agreement with Libya on prisoner exchange. International fund Libyan Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmudi revealed details of the agreement that was signed with the EU, which led to the extradition of the nurses and doctor. The Bulgarian leader pardoned the medics on arrival in Sofia At a news conference in Tripoli, he said the government had not paid into the Benghazi International Fund, which provided $1m (500,000) for each of the infected children. Mr Mahmudi said the money primarily had come from Qatar, Slovakia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic but he did not specify the size of the contributions. He said France had promised to equip the Benghazi hospital - where the six medics worked and the children were infected - and provide training for Libyan medical staff over five years. The BBC's Rana Jawad in Tripoli says that the EU is set to significantly ease restrictions on visas for citizens, which could see Libyans obtain them within 48 hours. Earlier this month, Libya commuted to life imprisonment, the death sentences imposed on the five Bulgarian nurses and the Palestinian-born doctor after the families of the infected children agreed to the compensation deal. The medics' release to Bulgaria was made possible by a deal struck in Tripoli on improving Libya-EU ties, following years of negotiations.