Introduction - HIV/AIDS

Introduction - HIV/AIDS

Action

Action

 

Introduction - HIV/AIDS

© UNICEF/Ethiopia/Getachew

Dinkinesh is a 60-year-old grandmother who lives in Addis Ababa with her six-year-old grandchild Brook. The husband of her only daughter died of AIDS. Dinkinesh's daughter followed a year and a half later, leaving behind four children.

There are currently an estimated 2.2 million people living with the virus with the highest prevalence rates attributed to youth between 15-24 years.

Though awareness about HIV/AIDS is high, misconceptions and low risk perception are equally high across target groups.  Stigma and discrimination are thus still formidable challenges that limit the realization of the rights of people living with AIDS (PLWAs) as well as orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by the virus. 

Data on OVCs affected by HIV/AIDS is lacking.  The majority of orphans are cared for within their communities by extended family, but the capacity of the extended family is being stretched. Stigma and discrimination sometimes mean that orphans are shunned with no place to go.  

The Government of Ethiopia adopted an HIV/AIDS National Policy in 1998 and established a multi-sectoral program co-ordinated by National and Regional HIV/AIDS Council Secretariats.