New organisation to deal with AIDS orphans

A new organisation tasked with supporting the burgeoning number of AIDS orphans is to be set up in Ethiopia. The association will specifically target children whose parents have been killed by the virus. "It will help co-ordinate funds and direct them to the children," the board chairman of the US non-governmental organisation 'People to People', Dr Abraham Asnake, told IRIN. "It will ensure they get help with their education, provide food and shelter and allow the children access to services they need." The number of AIDS orphans in Ethiopia is huge, with the ministry of health estimating there are now one million - many forced onto the streets. "Too often AIDS orphans are forgotten with the majority of funding being diverted to other areas like drugs," Abraham added. "This organisation will help raise their profile and ensure that they receive the help they desperately need." The organisation has the support of Ethiopian President Girma Wolde-Giorgis who has been in talks with Abraham. He wants it to be community-based, working under the Ethiopian National HIV/AIDS Secretariat Council – established to coordinate the government’s fight against the disease. President Girma announced the establishment of the new body on Thursday at an annual lunch organised for 500 AIDS-orphaned children. Often children whose parents have died of AIDS are forced onto the streets without any help. He told the audience that communities should offer support rather than turn a blind eye to the problem which is afflicting the whole continent. Ethiopia has the third largest population in the world with HIV/AIDS. Only India and South Africa have a greater number of people living with the virus. According to official figures released last year, the number of AIDS orphans was 750,000. Recent statistics show that the figure will have risen to 2.1 million by 2014, and could be even higher. According to ministry of health reports, in some areas 20 percent of pregnant woman carry the virus. Current figures estimate that 7.3 percent of the adult population (in the 15 to 49 age group) is now living with the virus. The current population of Ethiopia is 65 million – one of the largest in sub-Saharan Africa. "The scale of the problem is very worrying but it is crucial that we address it," Abraham added. "This is something that affects everyone and with the number of AIDS orphans increasing the problem will only get worse before it gets better." 'Dawn of Hope', an Ethiopian NGO also working with AIDS victims, said funding was desperately needed. The World Bank has already given a US $59 million loan to the government to help tackle the crisis. Other agencies are pouring in funds to help with health care and education although they have been urged to do more. "This new organisation will be a very important development," said Zewdu Getachew from 'Dawn of Hope'. "It means that at the heart of the strategy on AIDS will be an organisation addressing the needs of children." "About four years ago in Ethiopia many people did not believe in AIDS or HIV," Zewdu added. "So much of our work has been educating them to try and prevent the further spread of the virus. Now we have to educate society about the needs of the orphans and how we can help them."