THE MANAGEMENT OF CHILDREN LEFT BEHIND BY AIDS

Abstract

In countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS, as in South Africa, the care for AIDS orphans and children affected by AIDS will fall primarily on households and communities. However, with the increasing burden on the family system and the community due to high death rates amongst adults as a result of the disease, orphans are going to be left with very little support. This therefore increases the burden on the Welfare system to find appropriate ways for providing the best care for these children. Special needs of AIDS orphans are identified and this checklist is used to assess whether three Gauteng government run homes are providing appropriate care. While there is a place for community and home-based care, well run homes, such as the three in the study, should be left in place to take care of these children in the mean time. There is also an urgent need for child grants to be made more accessible to all children for as long as they are in a vulnerable situation