The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is one disease that has placed the scientific world on its toes in terms of finding a vaccine to control its spread.

To date, no vaccine has been discovered. Only drugs meant to manage it so that people living with it can live longer have been discovered. One very sad aftermath of the disease is the astronomical rise in the number of orphaned and vulnerable children in the society.

Statistics from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development show that the number of orphaned and vulnerable children or OVC in Nigeria is 17.5 million. They live in deplorable conditions and are neglected, exploited and abused.

It is also estimated that 29 per cent of children between six and 17 years are engaged in child labour, 20.3 per cent are not regular in school, 15 per cent lack access to health facility, more than 20 per cent are without birth certificates and 17.8 per cent are victims of sexual abuse.

Again, about 40 per cent of street children in Nigeria have been trafficked, many of whom infected with HIV.

It is in view of these nerve-racking statistics that the Great HOPE Walk which marked its 10th anniversary recently embarked on a 10km walk to create awareness on the plight of the OVC in the country.

The walk, an initiative of HWWN and its partners, MTN Foundation, Coca-Cola Nigeria and the United States Aids for International Development (USAID), had as its theme “Support a Child; Build a Great Nation.”

The 2010 edition of this walk had 10,000 volunteers walking from Maryland Comprehensive College to Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere area of Lagos.

Mr. Olaoshebikan Clement, Chief Executive Officer, HWWN, who spoke at the stadium after the walk, painted a gloomy picture of OVC situation in the country.
He said: “Of every 1,000 children born in Nigeria, 230 will die before the age of five; over 50 per cent of these deaths are due to malnutrition.”

Continuing, he stressed that “6.4 per cent of children are dropping out of school due to early marriage; 3.8 per cent of children are not attending school as a result of trying to support their families; 49.6 per cent of children have had to work for money due to economic hardship; 20 per cent of young girls have been forced to have sexual intercourse; 13.7 per cent of orphans have been denied their inheritance rights; over 40 per cent of children do not have birth certificates; there are no resources specifically reserved for OVC in communities; yet about 51 per cent of our projected 140m population are children between the ages 0 and 17 years.”

On the way forward, the HOPE CEO recommended a full implementation of the Universal Basic Education Law, full scale-up of the Integrated Maternal Newborn and Child Health Strategy and the implementation of the Child Rights law.

Also speaking after the walk, Ms. Nonny Ugboma, Executive Secretary, MTN Foundation said as a socially responsible corporate citizen, the foundation has adopted 600 OVC in six states of the federation which are Kogi, Cross River, Gombe, Sokoto and Imo under the MTNF Children at Risk Empowerment Scheme (CARES) project in order to cater for their medical, social, psychological and nutritional needs.

She stressed that the Foundation is taking the position "because we believe in the future of these children. This is why we are passionate about this intervention. We urge everyone present here today to join the Foundation and its partner, HOPE Worldwide to affect the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in our midst and eradicate the stigma and suffering associated with losing one’s parents especially through HIV/AIDS."