Addressing The Needs Of Orphans And Vulnerable Children OVC

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Addressing The Needs Of Orphans And Vulnerable
Children (OVC)

• LIBERIA COUNTRY TEAM
• NEXT STEP AFTER THE OVC WORKSHOP
• DAKAR, SENEGAL
• 08 JULY 2004

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• HIV/AIDS is increasing at an alarming rate.
• Liberia first case was reported in 1986
• By 2001, 532 cumulated cases had been confirmed
• Though this is a gross underestimation, it still
  represents a significant increase between 1986
  and 2001
• In Oct. 2002 the silence on HIV/AIDS was broken.
• There is an NGO of people living with HIV/AIDS
  which only focuses on adults.
• The NGO, Liberia Orphans of AIDS Foundation is
  the only organization that works directly with
  OVC. 104 OVC are being catered for.

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• From 1992 2001 the average HIV/AIDS prevalence
  rate was estimated at 6.2
• At the end of 2001, this figure was raised to
  8.2.
• At the end of 2003, it was revised to 11
• However, a sero-prevalence survey has not been
  carried out in Liberia
• A Situation Analysis is being planned for OVC
  before the end of 2004.

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How to Reach the OVCs

• Conducting a situation analysis which will give
  confirmed information about OVC, indicate the
  basic social services being rendered,
  interventions, identify gaps and problems that
  families and communities encounter in their daily
  lives.
• Make recommendations on appropriate strategies
  for addressing the problem of OVCs.

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What must change for that to happen?

• There is high level of denial among the entire
  populace. There is a need for widespread
  sensitization at all levels to bring about
  attitude change of the general populace.
• Empower the National AIDS Control Program (NACP)
  to effectively monitor and evaluate the
  implementation of HIV/AIDS activities according
  to the guidelines and policies

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What must change for that to happen Cont.

• The NACP does not have a Unit that caters
• to OVCs

National AIDS Control Program
OVC
National AIDS Commission
IEC
Blood Safety
STI Mgt.
Care Support
Surveil- lance
Treat- ment
Natl. Coord For PLWA
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How will you Personally and as a Team make that
Change to happen

• Debrief the Minister of Health and Social
  Welfare, the UNICEF Representative, the National
  AIDS Control Program Director, the Director of
  the Liberia Orphans of AIDS Foundation about the
  Dakar OVC Workshop
• Debrief the OVC Task Force
• Review the existing NACP program find out which
  sector should be responsible for OVC
• Lobby with the relevant Ministries to raise the
  awareness and the need for programs for OVCs

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How will you Personally and as a Team make that
Change to happen cont.

• Advocate and lobby for the amendment of the
  National Plan of Action on Children to include
  OVC specific issues
• Mobilization of resources for policy planning on
  OVC

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Priorities And Gaps Making A Quantitative And
Qualitative Impact On The Lives Of The Children

• Conducting a Situation Analysis of OVCs
• Conducting a sero-prevalence survey
• Initiate action to strengthen mechanisms for
  monitoring of OVC programs at the national,
  county and regional levels