World Aids Orphans Day...May 7

In 2010, the number of children worldwide who have lost one or both parents to AIDS is expected to reach 25 million – equivalent to the number of people living in New York, Paris, and Bangkok combined. In sub-Saharan Africa alone, over 15 million children have been orphaned by the pandemic. Experts believe that millions more orphans remain unaccounted for in India, China and Russia. 

The Impact:

• In addition to the trauma of losing a parent, orphans are often subject to discrimination and are less likely to receive healthcare, education and other needed services.
• In HIV affected households lacking community support, food consumption can drop by 40% putting children at risk to hunger, malnutrition and stunting.
• Impoverished and often without support to educate and protect them, orphans and vulnerable children face increased risk of HIV infection.
• Orphans are often easy prey to many forms of exploitation: forced labor, prostitution and child soldiering.

World AIDS Orphans Day (May 7) is a grassroots campaign to draw attention to and advocate on behalf of the millions of children orphaned by AIDS.

More than 15 million children worldwide have lost one or both parents to AIDS. In 2010, the number of AIDS orphans worldwide is expected to climb to an estimated 20 - 25 million children.

Too little attention is given to orphans and vulnerable children. Few than 1 in 10 orphans receives any external support.

Governments should direct at least 10% of their overall HIV and AIDS funding to support AIDS orphans and vulnerable children.

Speak up for orphans. It’s easy to get involve. Host a World AIDS Orphans Day event. Lobby world leaders. Generate press coverage about the orphans crisis. Spread the word.

All info taken from the World AIDS Orphan Day website.
Check out: www.worldaidsorphans.org

Your voice is their future.