Children Affected by AIDS (CABA) - The need for a broad based response
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Dear colleagues,

The Africa America Institute would like to invite you to participate
in an online discussion forum to be held in June 2003. We will be ex-
ploring the theme: Children Affected by AIDS (CABA) - The need for a
broad based response.

What important role and contributions can African nations make in
tackling the growing problem of Children Affected by AIDS? As part of
the discussion we will be discussing the following sub-themes:

1. Therapeutic Support

CABA need support in processing the death of their parents from HIV/
AIDS and making the transition from victim to survivor. From where
can this support be obtained? What are the roles and responsibilities
of the community in providing this support? Would national coordina-
tion or external support facilitate (or detract from) local efforts
in this area?

2. Legal and Financial Support

Dying parents are often not able to make arrangements to ensure ap-
propriate legal and financial support for their children after their
deaths. This is because the parents are often either psychologically
or physically debilitated when they are aware of their impending
deaths from HIV AIDS. HIV-positive parents and their families often
make efforts to avoid public disclosure of their condition. This of-
ten prevents the access to information and support, and limits their
ability to make adequate preparations for their children. What are
the most important factors that need to be addressed by HIV positive
parents, and how can they be effectively addressed, and what support
should they be able to receive from the community? Would national co-
ordination or external support facilitate (or detract from) local ef-
forts in this area?

3. Guardianship

The issue of guardianship is covered by several frameworks. These
frameworks include not only cultural practice but also religious tra-
ditions and the legal system. However, these different frameworks
each come with differing perspectives (eg having to do with blame,
social norms, and varying expressions of community interest). What
are the responsibilities of guardians for CABA, and how are they to
be selected, assigned, and supported by the secular, religious, and
legal communities? Would national coordination or external support
facilitate (or detract from) local efforts in this area?

4. Social and Educational Integration

CABA are often stigmatized by peers and by segments of the community.
In this way, HIV AIDS is planting the seeds of serious social schisms
that are likely to express themselves in the future through politi-
cal, social and economic tensions at community and national levels.
What school-based and community-based programs, facilities, and cam-
paigns are needed to ensure that CABA are not stigmatized and ex-
cluded from the mainstream of social development? What leadership and
initiatives are needed to bring this about? Would national coordina-
tion or external support facilitate (or detract from) local efforts
in this area?

5. CABA: The Need for a Broad Based Response

How do communities perceive the issues of CABA? CABA represent many
short-term and long-term implications for communities: are these gen-
erally known and understood by community members? Is there an ongoing
debate in the community about these issues? What is the role of com-
munity leaders (secular, religious, governmental, civil society) in
holding solution-oriented debates about these issues? Would national
coordination or external support facilitate (or detract from) local
efforts in this area?

6. Educating Children about HIV AIDS

CABA are no less vulnerable to contracting HIV than other population
group. The reduced financial and life skills support that CABA ex-
perience because of the absence of parents, combined with the social
exclusion that they often experience because of stigma, make them
more vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. Education about HIV AIDS
is required for all children, and is a broad community responsibility
(i.e not simply a school responsibility). What kind of education pro-
grams and campaigns can communities develop that target children? Are
education programs and campaigns that target CABA specifically re-
quired? How can communities develop and implement such efforts? Would
national coordination or external support facilitate (or detract
from) local efforts in this area?

7. National and International Institutions

What kinds of programs and initiatives should national institutions
(e.g. universities, synods, national church) and international insti-
tutions (e.g. donors, foundations) be implementing to support the is-
sues of CABA and the need for broad-based community response?

8. CABA: Giving Voice

CABA confront similar issues and challenges all over the country. How
can they be encouraged and supported in articulating their concerns,
needs, recommendations and knowledge? What kind of support is needed
for CABA in creating associations through which they can advocate for
their interests? Would national coordination or external support fa-
cilitate (or detract from) local efforts in this area?

Please visit AAI's website at:
http://www.aaionline.org/whatAfricaPersp.html

We believe you will find the online discussion a valuable way to
share your experiences, observations and opinions and to learn about
those of other Africans. You will be able to participate entirely via
email, but will also be able to access message archives and other
special features online through the discussion web page.

If you are interested in participating, please send an e-mail to:
mailto:[email protected]

or send an e-mail to
John Kiwanuka Ssemakula
mailto:[email protected]

with the subject heading:
'African Perspectives CABA 2003 Online discussion'

To post a message you can e-mail:
mailto:[email protected]

If you participated in previous African Perspectives Online discus-
sions, you do not need to re-subscribe. You will automatically be in-
cluded. You may unsubscribe, if you wish, by sending an e-mail to
mailto:[email protected]

Those who choose to participate will receive additional discussion
information. We look forward to your participation and to sharing
perspectives with you.

Best regards,

Bertrand Laurent
AFTECH Project Director
The Africa-America Institute

Dr John Kiwanuka Ssemakula
Discussion Moderator
The Africa-America Institute
mailto:[email protected]