Aids awareness
You might ask why SACRED, a children’s charity, are concerned with South Africa’s AIDS epidemic. The terrible suffering that HIV has caused on an individual and community level can’t be ignored - AIDS is responsible for leaving around 1.4m children across South Africa without parents - if not for the AIDS epidemic, these children would not have been orphaned.
A proportion of these children are looked after by family members – which puts an even greater financial burden on those already struggling. Often a child will have to take over parental resposibility often these children these lack not only the basics like food, clothing and shelter, but also the guidance, support and love generally offered by parents. They often bare the brunt of discrimination and can be ostracised from the community, because of the stigma attached to Aids, they also are vulnerable to harassment, violence and sexual abuse.
It is difficult to overstate the suffering that HIV has caused in South Africa. With statistics showing that almost one in five adults are infected and AIDS deaths are alarmingly common throughout the country. It is thought that almost half of all deaths in South Africa, and a staggering 71% of deaths among those aged between 15 and 49, are caused by AIDS.
Education suffers as schools have fewer teachers because of the AIDS epidemic - in 2006 it was estimated that 21% of teachers in South Africa were living with HIV. Health care is put under enormous pressure, as hospitals struggle to cope with the number of HIV-related patients that they have to care for. It affects every aspect of life in South Africa for the young and old!
SACRED have opened:
- Raise awareness - HIV/Aids workshops Hold seminars
- Encourage voluntary testing
- Provide counselling & medical aid
- Stop discrimination against with HIV/Aids
- Providing education & support for victims
- Establish and maintain networks with institutions and organisations
- Adopt HIV/Aids orphans
- Aids Information Centres