southern/east africa: Grannies key to care-giving for Orphans in Africa, says HelpAge International Workshop
A workshop convened by HelpAge International in Nairobi this week showed that support to older carers and orphans and vulnerable children is wanting in Africa. Participants were drawn from Southern and Eastern African countries, representing organisations working with older people, orphans and other vulnerable children, AIDS Control Councils, government representatives, donor agencies, older people and orphaned children. The workshop reviewed evidence regarding the role of older women and men as carers of orphans and vulnerable children affected by AIDS, identified gaps in existing programmes and policies, and mapped out strategies to provide effective support for older people and orphans and vulnerable children.
Grannies key to care-giving for Orphans in Africa, says HelpAge International Workshop
“To be left with these children was a greater shock to me than the death of my son”, Dennis Oketho, 78 years.
Nairobi, 19th September 2003 - A workshop convened by HelpAge International in Nairobi this week showed that support to older carers and orphans and vulnerable children is wanting in Africa. Participants were drawn from Southern and Eastern African countries, representing organisations working with older people, orphans and other vulnerable children, AIDS Control Councils, government representatives, donor agencies, older people and orphaned children.
The workshop reviewed evidence regarding the role of older women and men as carers of orphans and vulnerable children affected by AIDS, identified gaps in existing programmes and policies, and mapped out strategies to provide effective support for older people and orphans and vulnerable children.
As thousands of people gather in Nairobi for ICASA, we call on them to consider the key recommendations from this workshop.
African governments need to put in place legal and policy frameworks to protect the rights of older care-givers and orphans.
The international community should fulfil its commitments to tackling the socio-economic impacts of AIDS on orphans and older care-givers as stated in the United Nations Declaration on HIV/AIDS.
Communities and families need to be strengthened to support older people caring for orphans and vulnerable children.
NGOs and faith-based organisations should include older women and men in their programmes addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.
AIDS prevention and care messages should be made accessible and relevant to older people.
Older people and orphans and other vulnerable children should participate in the design and implementation of community-based programmes.
African governments need to ensure the economic security of families of older people and orphaned children.
The workshop called for better co-ordination and collaboration between national governments, NGOs, faith-based organisation and international development agencies to ensure an intergenerational approach to tackling the orphan crisis in Africa. Older people have a right to their fair share of resources and support to meet their basic needs and those of the children under their care.
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HelpAge International is a global network of not-for-profit organisations working to improve the quality of lives of disadvantaged older people worldwide.
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For more information please contact: HelpAge International, Africa Regional Development Centre, PO Box 14888, 00800 Nairobi, Kenya; Tel: +254-020-4446991/4449407/4444289; Fax: +254-020-4441052, Email: [email protected]