Plight of AIDS orphans profiled

The New York Times recently profiled the plight of HIV/AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa, where, according the UN, some 11 million children aged under 15 had lost one or both parent to the pandemic. The social implications of the region's large number of orphans are "enormous", as orphans are more likely than other children to drop out of school, be malnourished, be exploited by adults, engage in sex work, and contract HIV, the newspaper said. Although African social traditions expected relatives to care for orphans and other extended family members in need of help, HIV/AIDS had "pushed so many families to the brink" that many had been forced to turn away needy or ill relatives. Research shows that only six of the 40 sub-Saharan African countries had plans in place to deal with the orphans.