BACKGROUND Nigeria: HIV/Aids - Problems of Orphans, Vulnerable Children in Nigeria

BY ELOKE ONYEBUCHI,

The response to the crisis of orphans and vulnerable children due to HIV/AIDS in Nigeria has been largely community driven with the extended family providing the safety net for protection, care and support. Estimates indicate that 7 million populations were orphans in 2003, which 1.8 million were affected by HIV/AIDS. Consequently high levels of poverty resulting in low resource base and lack of basic credit and employment facilities in most rural communities have jeopardized the realization of the wellbeing of orphans and vulnerable children in Nigeria. The objectives of this article are to present a summary of the national OVC situation and current policy responses. To outline the existing frameworks for responding to OVC and to identify the policy - level gaps in the national responses to the growing crises of OVC, and the need to intervene on these problems affecting orphan and vulnerable children affected or infected by hiv/aids in Nigeria.

Until recently, the scale of the national response has not been commensurate with the magnitude of the orphans and vulnerable children's problems. In spite of some weaknesses where individual children living with caregivers are targeted, there are examplesA of best practice in pockets of interventions in the country. These are largely community driven responses that work in partnerships with civil society organizations to provide protection, care and support for most vulnerable children and their families. Evidence of such good practice remains limited in size and scope is highly uncoordinated, due to unavailable active policy environment. Children, mainly of youth age have been the missing voice and face of orphans and vulnerability responses to date. Without taking determined steps to address the specific needs of children, there will be no chance of meeting the Millennium Development and NEEDS Goals (MDGs); and certainly no chance of halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV and AIDS. Failure to meet the goal on HIV and AIDS will adversely affect the country's chances to meet the other MDGs, as HIV and AIDS will continue to impede efforts to reduce extreme poverty and hunger, provide universal primary education, and reduce child mortality and improve public health care. Millions of children under 15 years in the path of the pandemic are at risk and in need of protection. http://allafrica.com/stories/201308191661.html