LIBERIA: AIDS orphans need attention, foundation says

The Liberian government needs to reexamine how it deals with children whose parents are HIV-positive or have died of AIDS, the leader of a local AIDS charity says.

"We have received no government subsidy as compared to other social welfare institutions, which the government is providing annual financial assistance. We just rely on funds from the Global Fund and other private donations," said Lela Samuels, executive director of the Liberia Orphans of AIDS Foundation (LOAF).

The organisation, formed in 2001, provides tuition, uniforms, notebooks, monthly healthcare and food for more than 500 children whose parents are infected with HIV or have died of AIDS. Some of the children are HIV-positive.

Under Liberia's current US $129 million budget, some US $400,000 in subsidies is allocated to orphanages. This falls under the US$ 7.2 million health budget - modest spending for a country trying to rebuild after years of civil war.

But a government budget official told IRIN that subsidies are only granted to established orphanages approved by the ministry of health.

"The government is aware of those children orphaned by AIDS, but they needed to be integrated into other mainstream orphanages if they would have to benefit from government subsidies," said the official, who asked not to be named. "This government is less than a year in office and there are lots of priorities out there and maybe in the future AIDS orphans could be included in the budget."

Samuels said AIDS orphans, like adults, live with the stigma of the disease.

"We have been having incidents where those orphaned children experience stigma in schools from their peers, but we try sensitise the communities and schools against stigma which could pose a psychological problem for the upbringing of the children" she said.

The children cared for by the foundation are housed with family members and receive regular visits from the group to monitor their condition. Most of the children live in the Monrovia area.

Samuels said LOAF has identified other AIDS orphans in rural areas and has established branches in 45 communities.

Theme (s): Care/Treatment - PlusNews,

[This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]