TITLE:
A Public Health Model and Framework to Mitigate the Impact of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Due to HIV/AIDS in Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Dickson Shey Nsagha, Ngowe Ngowe Marcelin, Jules Clement Nguedia Assob, Anna Longdoh Njundah
KEYWORDS:
Orphans; Vulnerable; Children; HIV; AIDS; Public Health Model; Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.4 No.1,
February
27,
2014
ABSTRACT: UNICEF, UNAIDS and
USAID developed a global strategic framework to guide responses to care and
protect orphans and other vulnerable children in the context of HIV/AIDS. In
the developing world, about 132 million people have lost one or both parents
due to the AIDS pandemic and 25 million children have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS
in 2010. The HIV prevalence in Cameroon is estimated at 5.1%. As of 2010, there
were 304,000 deaths due to AIDS in Cameroon. Out of 1,200,000 orphans and
vulnerable children in Cameroon in 2010, 300,000 were AIDS orphans. The
HIV/AIDS burden impacts child survival, growth and development in the
traditional African setting. With so many orphans in the population, along with
many vulnerable children, strategies must be developed to respond more
effectively to their critical needs. This study provides a model for OVC care
and support in Cameroon. The model was developed out of extensive work using a
participatory approach involving traditional, administrative and health
stakeholders on OVC in Yaounde I and Yaounde VI Councils, Nanga Eboko Health
District, Isangelle, Ekondo Titi, and Bafaka-Balue communities in Cameroon.
Consultancy services with PLAN Cameroon, the Pan African Institute for Development-West
Africa coupled with facilitation of many training workshops on OVC with Save
the orphans Foundation, the Ministry of Social Affairs, and the Ministry of
Public Health and working with the National AIDS Control Committee. The
essential components of a holistic framework for the care of OVC have been
identified. A public health model for the care of OVC and a mechanism for their
identification and a referral system for testing OVC for HIV are proposed.
Through this model, a mechanism for the effective holistic care of OVC and
collaboration is enhanced.