Aids Orphans

About 50% of deaths, due to AIDS, occur between the age group of 25-40, survived by their orphaned children. Often, these children are also diagnosed as HIV positive. Even if they are not, they have to face a number a problems in life, which has an adverse impact on both their body and minds. As a result of having physically and mentally ill parents, their upbringing, in most cases remains abnormal and substandard. For most of them, loss of one parent means, eventual death of the other parent too, as the disease must have got transferred to him or her in the due course of living together.

The number of these AIDS orphans is 15 million, out of which 11.6 millions are in Africa and 1.8 million in Asia. Every year almost 70,000 children are orphaned due to AIDS all around the globe, and by the end of 2010, the number can increase up to 20, million. In Sub Saharan Africa, 28% of the children are orphaned due to AIDS.

Problems faced by AIDS orphans

• Emotional problems

  Anxiety, depression and mental distress are therefore very common in AIDS orphans. Many of their lives start with social neglect and discrimination. In a survey conducted in Africa, 12% of them said that they had no urge to live.

• Psychological Problems

  It has been studied that most of these children are more aggressive and violent than other normal children. The social rejection they face makes them more skeptical about the world and its people, which is not a good sign in the tender childhood years. It is derogatory for a healthy adulthood.

• Social problems

  The demise of parents, often takes away their basic rights like shelter, food, education and clothing. This sudden poverty leads to child labor, child prostitution, stealing and begging, resulting to further separation from the family.

• Educational problems

  The education of these children remains incomplete as no one wants to take the financial responsibility of this extra load, especially if he or she is an AIDS orphan. Many a times, the children terminate their education, due to the sudden economic distress in the family after the demise of the parents.

• Security problems

  After the death of their parents, they often they often lose their rightful properties ceased by the other corrupt relatives. Many of their parents write a will for them before death. However, some parents are not educated enough to know the formal procedures of securing their children's future.

Many global organizations have taken up projects that look after AIDS orphaned children. WHO, UNESCO, Joint United Nation Programs on HIV/AIDS, UNAIDS serve these children at global level, aiding them with $15 billion, under the Emergency plan for AIDS relief. Even at local level, there are many organizations, NGOs, government bodies, and special orphanages that take the responsibility of these children. Yet many children go unnoticed, to lead a miserable life. World AIDS Orphans Day is observed on 7th May every year, carry out campaigns, educate the people around the world about AIDS orphans, seeking help and attention to bring a smile on these children's faces.