The orphaned children of Africa

What can we all do for the orphaned children of Africa?

Today there are 25 million, in the very near future there will be 30 million orphaned children in sub-Saharan Africa, with up to a thousand new ones being added every day as 300 adults die daily from HIV/AIDS.

Babies, toddlers, school-age children, teenagers: many, many living unsupported and in desperate conditions, with no living adult relatives; some luckier ones living along with 15 or more others with grandma, already frail, multi-bereaved and poor, her little house bulging and at bursting point.

It’s time for urgent action! Time to achieve the millenium development goals by ensuring focussed, targeted funds really do reach the poorest and those living most distant from the politicians and bureaucrats in the capital cities.

Time to break through all the barriers to supplying affordable ARV drugs to those who desperately need them. Buying time for mothers to bring up their children is surely one of the best things we can do!

Time for ordinary people in the affluent areas of the world to agitate for justice and real action, not just promises. Time too for us all to see these children as jewels belonging to us all, to be treasured just like those born to us.

Without resolve and real commitment, what future is there for these children who, far too often, do not know what it is to be loved and cared for, and certainly do not feel valued. What kind of adults will those who survive become?

At HATW we are trying hard to help support local grass-roots initiatives in places like Ghana, Zambia, Uganda, India, Benin, Brazil and Kenya.

Can we not all resolve to do something more?