Africa is Being Ravaged by HIV/AIDS and Children are Paying the Greatest Price
The Impact of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Home to 12% of the world's population, Sub-Saharan Africa is home to over 65% of all people living with HIV.
- In 2007, nearly 23 million men, women, and children in the region were HIV positive.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 children who are HIV positive today are from African countries.
- Of the children currently under the age of 18 orphaned by HIV/AIDS worldwide, close to 80% live in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This is an orphan crisis without historical precedent.
As HIV/AIDS takes the lives of mothers and fathers across Sub-Saharan Africa, millions of children lose a primary source of their support, guidance, and unconditional love. For every orphaned child, many more are made vulnerable as family members become ill, vital resources are depleted, and children themselves are at risk of HIV-infection. In a region where more than half of the population lives on less than one dollar per day and access to life-saving medications is limited, the impact of AIDS on children and families is devastating.
Most of these children continue to live with a surviving parent or their extended family members.
In traditional African culture, extended family or community members often take in children who have lost one or both parents. But many of these families are living in poverty and are struggling to provide. This crisis calls for a broad-based and compassionate response that helps families and communities to meet the needs of orphans and vulnerable children.
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"There are more than 12 million children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in Africa. This is a staggering statistic that we cannot ignore. I have seen first-hand how churches and faith-based groups in Africa are walking their faith by responding with great compassion and care to the needs of children and families. I believe that the Church here in the U.S. has an important role to play in supporting these efforts. We need to remember that every child is loved by God. From Faith to Action is a wonderful resource for all those with a heart for children."
Kay Warren, Saddleback Church
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