INSIEME CONTRO L’AIDS

TOGETHER AGAINST AIDS

Support for HIV-infected children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

168

children supported by the project

131

children attend primary and secondary

young people work regularly

A project promoting the rights of children affected by HIV or AIDS in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by providing psychological support, access to treatment and education and by counteracting social stigmatisation.

TO GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS
OF HIV-POSITIVE CHILDREN IN ETHIOPIA

BACKGROUND

IN ETHIOPIA MANY CHILDREN ARE AFFECTED BY HIV AND AIDS

In Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, 16,000 new cases of HIV infection were registered in 2017; 5,500 of these concerned children and young people under the age of 14; they are often orphans or semi-orphans who, in a large number of cases, contracted the disease during the mother's pregnancy. In addition to the serious physical problems that the disease entails, these children and their families suffer a strong stigmatisation by the community, which forces them into a life of exclusion from all kinds of activities and high levels of poverty. The violations of the rights of sick children mainly concern education, which, due to widespread ignorance and fear, is not guaranteed to them.

OBJECTIVES

GUARANTEE THE RIGHTS
OF HIV-POSITIVE CHILDREN
IN ETHIOPIA

The project Together against AIDS aims to ensure a dignified life for Ethiopian children with HIV or AIDS in two of the most populated areas of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: the sub-cities of Yeka and Gullele. Our aim is to guarantee the rights of these children, who are often marginalised and affected by extreme poverty. We want to give them the opportunity to study, to have regular access to health care and to receive psychological support. The project also aims to raise awareness of the AIDS phenomenon, both in terms of prevention and of the socio-economic inclusion of HIV-positive people.

HOW WE WORK

MEDICAL AND PSYCHO
SOCIAL SUPPORT FOR
CHILDREN IN NEED

In order to guarantee the rights of HIV-positive children in Addis Ababa and to help them effectively, with our project we work in the fields of health and psychology as well as education. With our activities, we offer:

constant health monitoring, for the regular intake of antiretroviral drugs and the control of side effects;
the provision of necessary therapies and food to support the children's diet;
support to ensure regular school attendance and obtain educational materials;
vocational training programmes for older children and their relatives to counteract poverty.

RESULTS

A BETTER FUTURE
FOR HIV-POSITIVE CHILDREN
IN ETHIOPIA

With the project Together against AIDS, we are helping to improve the physical and mental health conditions of hundreds of HIV-positive children living in Ethiopia, also offering support to their family members.

Every year, we ensure regular school attendance to facilitate the social inclusion of these children, who are often victims of discrimination, we create job opportunities through access to vocational training and job coaching, to facilitate the socio-economic inclusion of their families.

Through awareness programmes, we strengthen the knowledge of the HIV/AIDS phenomenon in the communities, to reduce infection and discrimination.