CHILD Protection & Rights > Protection Issues > Protecting Hiv/Aids Affected Children From Vulnerability And Discrimination

3. Children's needs in the context of HIV/AIDS

For these children, it is necessary to work towards the creation of an enabling and protective environment allowing to gradually end discrimination and social stigma that children affected or infected with HIV/AIDS face.

Children living with HIV-positive parents should benefit most from medical intervention for them and for their family to prevent them from being infected and becoming orphans. These children should also benefit from financial assistance as well as measures targeting social service providers and the community to overcome the stigma and discrimination they face.

Children infected with HIV need specialised medical treatment and care as well as nutrient supplements. This care is best provided by parents with the support of local health centres and practitioners.

Children orphaned by AIDS often need psychological help to deal with emotional trauma and social exclusion, and their extended families may need counseling and support to care for these children. Institutionalization of children is a last resort. It is necessary to ensure that institutions do not discriminate against children affected by HIV/AIDS.

It is important to collect more reliable data on HIV/AIDS and to develop more qualitative and quantitative education and communication materials for public awareness as well as information for people living with HIV/AIDS on their rights and laws, policies, programmes and services available to them.