Orphan crisis worsened by HIV/AIDS

UGANDA: Orphan crisis worsened by HIV/AIDS

JOHANNESBURG, 20 Feb 2004 (PLUSNEWS) - HIV/AIDS has worsened Uganda's orphan crisis and caused the country's social support systems to weaken, the Washington Times reports.

A government demographic health survey has revealed that children account for 62 percent of Uganda's population, and the Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) estimates that 2.3 million orphans aged 17 and younger have lost at least one parent to AIDS-related illnesses.

According to the UAC, women were at the head of 70 percent of the orphan households in the country, while some orphans were running their own households, often also caring for younger brothers and sisters.

[ENDS]

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