This project provides food and medicines to 500 orphans and vulnerable children living with HIV in Zambia. When children have a nutritious diet and medicines to treat opportunistic infections, their immune system is strengthened, they grow normally, and can attend school. In addition, the children are happier, feel cared for and loved. Our goal is for all children to improve in health, attend school regularly, prevent the spread of HIV, and be self-reliant in taking care of their health.
Over 1 million children have been orphaned in Zambia and most orphans live with grandmothers/extended family. Since 42% of the population lives in extreme poverty it is hard for families to provide adequate care for all children under their care. According to UNICEF, 45% of Zambian children live in extreme poverty and 35% of young children have stunted growth. Without proper food, HIV+ children who are already immune compromised, fall sick, do not grow normally, and are unable to attend school.
This program provides food, medicines and education in HIV to 500 HIV+ children and their families. The provision of food (mealie meal which is a Zambian staple, beans, high protein soy supplement, and cooking oil) and medicines strengthens the immune system resulting in fewer opportunistic infections, improved health, and higher school attendance. Provision of education in HIV results in reducing stigma, prevention of STI's and HIV. Families are more self-reliant in taking care of their health.
Impact can be seen in better physical and mental health, higher school attendance, more participation in group activities, and higher high school graduation rates. Better knowledge about HIV results in reduced stigma, HIV prevention and more people accessing treatment. All these result in higher skill levels and lower unemployment. Families can break the vicious cycle of poverty, and the community can find solutions that work best for its family-centric culture and environment.
This project has provided additional documentation in a XLSX file (projdoc.xlsx).
