Children living with HIV/AIDS in Africa: Country by Country

Other Countries where SOS has AIDS Children programmes

Note: a fuller list is now at our main charity page on Africa and as well as further information on HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Algeria

The incidence of HIV/AIDS in the adult population is very low - 0.1%.

SOS Children helps to ensure that this remains the case for children and young people in its care by making sure that they are not ignorant of the affects of HIV/AIDS.

Angola

Angola, as well as recovering from the affects of a prolonged civil war, is having to come to terms with a rising rate of HIV/AIDS. Nearly 4% of the adult population is affected and more than 100,000 children were orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS in 2003 (source UNICEF).

SOS Children is working in Benguela and Lubango reaching out to orphaned and vulnerable children and their families in the local communities. SOS Children works with the local health departments and other NGOs on prevention through education and voluntary testing.

Benin

In Benin there are estimated to be more than 42,000 children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS and over 200,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. Both these figures are thought to be underestimates because of inadequate monitoring and the low take up of voluntary testing.

SOS Children is working in two centres - Abomey-Calavi and Natitingou - providing counselling to orphaned and vulnerable children and their families in the local communities. A third project is planned in Dassa-Zoume.

Botswana

Botswana has, according to most estimates, one of the highest infection rates for HIV/AIDS. 37% of the adult population is affected. 120,000 children were orphned as a result of HIV/AIDS, 75% of all orphans. (source UNICEF). This is having a dramatic impact on the relatively high standards achieved since independence. The number of children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS is estimated to be between 60, and 80,000.

SOS Children works with the National Aids Co-ordinating Agency which has set up the Botswana-Baylor Children's Centre of Excellence to provide treatment and care for children affected by HIV/AIDS.

Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso has a 4.2% incidence of HIV/AIDS with 260000 children orphaned as a result, 30% of all orphans.

SOS Children is developing programmes based in Dafra and Ougadougou to help stengthen families affected by HIV/AIDS

Burundi

In Burundi, the incidence of HIV/AIDS continues to rise ,especially in rural areas. An estimated 20 per cent of the country’s urban population and six per cent of the rural population are HIV positive. Infection rates in girls aged 15 to 19 are four times greater than boys of the same age. There are an estimated 230,000 children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in the country, 30% of all orphans. (Source UNICEF).

SOS Children works with NGOs in Burundi to support the work to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS and related diseases. This is done through so-called "Anti-AIDS Clubs" in Bujumbura, Gitega, Muyinga and Rutana. Reaching out to families in the local communities, SOS Children provides voluntary testing, education materials for schools and anti-retrovirals.

Cameroon

Cameroon, like many sub-Saharan countries, faces poverty which is made worse by the affects of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Nearly 7% of the adult population is affected by HIV/AIDS. There were an estimated 240,000 orphans in 2003 as a result of HIV/AIDS, 26% of all orphans (Source UNICEF) SOS Children has implemented a community outreach programme to more than 5,000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their families in three areas in and around the capital Yaounde. This programme includes the supply of anti-retroviral drugs

Central African Republic

CAR is one of Africa's porest countries and the level of poverty has worsened especially for children since the failed coup in 2001. The incidence of HIV/AIDS has increased. 13.5% of the adult population is affected. 110,000 children were orphaned in 2003 as a result of HIV/AIDS, 38% of all orphans (source UNICEF). SOS Children works in partnership with UNICEF to develop an awareness, education and prevention programme through its school and the Medical and Social centres in Bangui, reaching out to nearly 6,000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their families

Chad

Just under 5% of the adult population of Chad is affected by HIV/AIDS. There are estimated to be 96000 children who are orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS, 19% of all orphans. SOS Children opened its first project in Chad in 2005 and a medical centre will be opened that will help orphaned and vulnerable children and their families.

Congo, Democratic Republic

As Congo recovers from five years of civil war, SOS Children is working to support orphaned and vulnerable children and their families. In the fight against HIV/AIDS, much of this work is done in conjunction with Medecins Sans Frontiere and other NGOs. Just over 4% of the adult population is affected, 770,000 children were orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, 18% of all orphans. SOS Children focusses on prevention through education in schools and in so called "Anti-AIDS Clubs" as well as with voluntary testing. SOS Children is working to help prevent the abandonment of children because of HIV/AIDS and related illnesses.

Egypt

The incidence of HIV/AIDS in the adult population is very low - 0.1%.

SOS Children helps to ensure that this remains the case for children and young people in its care by making sure that they are not ignorant of the affects of HIV/AIDS.

Ethiopia

Food and water shortages in Ethiopia have been followed by an increase in the incidence of HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that 4.4% of the population is affected, that 720,000 children were orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, 18% of all orphans, and that 200,000 children are living with HIV/AIDS (Source UNICEF). The most affected regions are the southern and eastern parts of the country. This poses a big challenge not only to SOS Children but also to the government and other NGOs. Ethiopia is experiencing an increase in the number of street children and families from rural communities migrating to urban slums. Consequently, it does not have the capacity to care for the increased number of street children and street families. SOS Children in Ethiopia aims to increase the quality and quantity of its child care working with other NGOs.

Gambia

Gambia has a low incidence rate of HIV/AIDS, just over 1% of the adult population is affected. 2000 children were orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS. to help keep this relatively low level of the incidence of HIV/AIDS. SOS Children runs awareness and education campaigns in its schools.

Ghana

Just over 3% of the adult population of Ghana is estimated to be affected by HIV/AIDS. It is estimated that there are 170,000 children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, that is 17% of all orphans.

SOS Children is working with the Ghana Aids Commission to train people to be skilled in both preventing and treating HIV/AIDS and related illness. The SOS Medical and Social Centres in Tema works with Wisdom Association, a local NGO for people living with HIV/AIDS. The programmes include prevention through education, counselling and advice to carers. The focus is on children in families affected by HIV/AIDS. In Asiakwa, SOS Children runs a Community Assistance Programme to the local community and in particular to the people of Agormanya which has one of the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS. The focus iss on so-called AIDS-orphans and child- and grandparent-led families.

Guinea

The incidence of HIV/AIDS in Guinea is thought to be increasing. Currently just over 3% of the adult population is affected. There are 35,000 children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, which is 8% of all orphans. SOS Children is working with the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Committee for Fighting HIV/AIDS to develop training and awareness programmes. Future activity will include working with local NGOs to strengthen families and support children.

Guinea-Bissau

SOS Children is working with local NGOs in Guinea-Bissau, as well as with international NGOs such as UNDP, UNAIDS and Plan, to develop training and information seminars especially for young girls and women in the communities of Bissau and Gabu. The outreach programme focusses on supporting families affected by HIV/AIDS, giving help with education and food as well as advice and counselling on the affects of HIV/AIDS. SOS Children also works with the local radio in Bissau to give advice on HIV/AIDS

Ivory Coast

It is estimated that 7% of the adult population of the Ivory Coast is affected by HIV/AIDS. The number of children made orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS is 310,000, which is over 30% of all orphans. SOS Children is working in the communities near to the SOS Children's Villages in Abobo-Gare and Aboisso to support families affected by HIV/AIDS

Kenya

Nearly 7% of the adult population of Kenya is affected by HIV/AIDS. There are more than 600,000 children who are orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS - 38% of all orphans. HIV/AIDS is a major cause of infant and child illness and mortality. SOS Children is working in Nairobi developing a Family Care Centre to support orphaned and vulnerable children and their families affected by HIV/AIDS. The programme includes voluntary counselling and testing and where approriate supplying anti-retroviral drugs.

Lesotho

Lesotho has one of the highest rates of incidence of HIV/AIDS in Africa. 29% of the adult population is affected. There are 100000 children who are orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS. That is 55% of all orphans. In Maseru, the capital of Lesotho, the rate of incidence is 40%. It is here that SOS Children is working to support orphaned and vulnerable children and their families. In the school, SOS Children works with the Ministry of Education to provide advice and information on the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In the SOS Social and Medical Centres, SOS Children is working with the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, reaching out to 1000 orphaned and vulnerable children and their families every month, providing voluntary counselling and testing and where approriate anti-retroviral drugs.

Liberia

Liberia has a 6% incidence of HIV/AIDS, with 39,000 children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS - just over 15% of all orphans. In the period immediately following the civil war, SOS Children is working with other NGOs to develop awareness of the affects of HIV/AIDS in order to strengthen families and reduce the abandonment of children.

Madagascar

Although the incidence of HIV/AIDS in Madagascar is relatively low - 1.7% of the adult population - , the United Nations fears that the rate will increase substantially. Children make up more than 50% of the population and the incidence of HIV/AIDS among children is increasing rapidly. UNAIDS estimate that every day 5 babies are born HIV positive.

Malawi

Malawi has a high incidence of HIV/AIDS. 14% of the adult population is affected. Estimates put HIV/AIDS as the cause of 70% of hospital deaths. It is also estimated that there are 500,000 children who are orphans as a result of HIV/AIDs. That’s 50% of all orphans. The situation is made worse by the vicious cycle of HIV/AIDS and the ongoing food crisis in Malawi. Malnutrition weakens people's resistance to infection which means they are unable to work the land which in turn results in lower food production. In addition the number of child- and grandparent-led families is increasing.

Mali

Mali has a relatively low rate of incidence of HIV/AIDS among the adult population - less than 2% - and a relatively low number of AIDS orphans - 75,000, just over 10% of all orphans. SOS Children works in partnership with government departments and other NGOs to raise awareness among orphaned and vulnerable children and their families about HIV/AIDS with the aim of preventing and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS in Mali.

Mauritius

The incidence of HIV/AIDS in the adult population is very low. SOS Children helps to ensure that this remains the case for children and young people in its care by making sure that they are not ignorant of the affects of HIV/AIDS.

Morocco

Mozambique

Mozambique has a relatively high rate of HIV/AIDS among the adult population, 12%, and about 470000 children who are orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, about one third of all orphans. The vicious cycle of an on-going food crisis and the HIV/AIDS pandemic has resulted in an increase in the number of people affected by HIV/AIDS and an increase in the number of orphans.

Namibia

Namibia has a high rate of incidence of HIV/AIDS - 21% of the adult population. 57000 orphans are as a result of HIV/AIDS - nearly half of all orphans. Drought, poverty and low food production contribute to the high incidence of HIV/AIDS and threaten to make the situation worse.

Niger

Niger has a relatively low incidence of HIV/AIDS - 1.2% of the adult population. Consequently the number of orphans asa result of HIV/AIDS is also relatively low - 24000, 3.5% of all orphans. This is despite the level of poverty in Niger - 63% live below the absolute poverty level.

Nigeria

In Nigeria, the incidence of HIV/AIDs is 5.4% but in the federal capital it is as high as 8.4% with it reaching more than 10% in some of the surrounding communities. It is estimated that there are 1.5 million orphans as a result of HIV/AIDS - 25% of all orphans.

Rwanda

Rwanda has an incidence rate of 5.1% but that rises to10% in the towns. There are 160000 orphans as a result of HIV/AIDs - 20% of all orphams. Rwanda is Africa's most densely populated country, is landlocked and is still recovering from the genocide of 1994.

Senegal

Senegal has one of the lowest rates of incidence of HIV/AIDS in Africa - less than 1%. Also less than 4% of orphans are as a result of HIV/AIDS.

South Africa

SOS Children's Villages has worked specifically on projects supporting families affected by HIV/AIDS since January 2002 based on its seven SOS Children's Villages. In addition it has established one pilot project to focus on community support with plans for a further two depending on the outcome of the pilot project.

Mamelodi: 90 families with children affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic receive direct support with their educational, medical and food needs. Key areas include HIV/AIDS prevention/awareness campaigns, life skills training on how to live with HIV/AIDS.

Ennerdale: As well as the community support programme where support and assistance (food-parcels, clothing, education, counselling, medical care, income generating activities) is given to 350 children/families affected by HIV/AIDS, other activities include:

A Youth Arts and Cultural Programme - an HIV Drama presented three times a week.
PLWA (People Living With AIDS) Support Group - counselling, support, food
Young Mothers’ Support Group - personal hygiene, how to care for a baby, breastfeeding.
Behavioural Change Programme – sexuality, use of condoms and abstention.

Cape Town: The programme supports 100 needy families in townships around the SOS Children's Village, working in conjunction with local community organisations. This includes: parental training to carers, training on income-generating activities, payment of tuition for school children, ongoing counselling support to the children/families, health/medical support for ill children, food parcels and basic clothing.

Port Elisabeth: The Community Development Programme works in the Walmer Township close to the SOS Children's Village, working in partnership with community based organisations. The 170 beneficiaries of the programme receive food-parcels, clothing, help with school fees and medical care. In the Missionvale community SOS Children's Villages is helping to improve the kindergarten.

Pietermaritzburg: The Community Programme, working with the Department of Social Welfare, supports 200 child-headed families in communities around the SOS Children's Village by providing monthly food parcels, clothing, school fees and uniforms, food for infants who are HIV positive. In addition, twelve individuals from HIV/AIDS affected families are given basic sewing skills and business management skills, additionally they are provided with lunch and bus fare on a day to day basis. The main aim is to help them to start their own small businesses in their communities. The third part of the community programme currently helps six local kindergartens – teaching materials, food, building work.

Nelspruit: The SOS Social Centre Nelspruit works with the Tekwane Home Based Care Group, to help 50 families affected by HIV/AIDS.

Umtata: SOS Children's Villages is working with the local hospice to help 350 families and their children who are affected by HIV/AIDS. This includes clothing, food and blankets, school fees and uniforms, income generating possibilities as well as psychosocial and emotional support. In addition the SOS Social Centre in Umtata is running an HIV/AIDS Information/Resource Centre, working with an HIV/AIDS support group. Workshops are organised in local schools on HIV/AIDS awareness, sexuality. Secondary school students, who are HIV+, are given referrals and support.

Qwa Qwa: A new project is being piloted to test the effectiveness of a low-cost community-based SOS Children's Village (four family houses with 24 children) to care for and support HIV/AIDS orphans. In addition support is given to 500 children in 125 families in the wider community. The project director works closely with the local community, which takes an active role in running the project.

Swaziland

In 1999 a committee was set up linking the local community and the SOS Children's Village Mbabane specifically to work against HIV/AIDS, focussing on education, information and help about HIV/Aids. Out of this developed the Family Carer Programme - a joint programme between SOS Children's Villages Swaziland and the Salvation Army to support and strengthen 90 child-headed and/or grandparent-headed families in two townships of Mbabane. A similar programme for 60 families has been developed at Nhlangano.

Zambia

In Lusaka, the Social Centre and Medical Centre supports 10,000 people in the communities in four townships around Lusaka through a community support programme including HIV/AIDS awareness and voluntary counselling and testing.

Zimbabwe

In Waterfalls, former staff accommodation in the SOS Children's Village has been converted into a SOS Social Centre. From there an outreach programme provides holistic care for 1500 children in child- and/or grandparent headed families in one of Harare's high-density suburbs. Similar programmes are run in Bindura and Bulawayo each supporting 500 children in child- and/or grandparent headed families.

For more information email Jenny at [email protected]