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This snapshot provides key facts, national plans of action, funding sources, and successes and challenges in planning for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) affected by HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean. It also highlights the role of regional mechanisms in addressing the needs of OVC.
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Facts • Three quarters of the 250,000 people infected wit HIV live in two countries: Haiti and Dominican Republic. • 27, 000 newly acquired infections in 2006 alone of which 3,700 were children under 15 years age. • 3,100 children died of AIDS in 2001 • National prevalence is high: 1-2 for Barbados, DR and Jamaica. • 2-4 for Bahamas, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana and Belize. • Deaths in 2006: 19,000 one of the leading causes of deaths among adults. • Young women make two thirds of all young people living with HIV/AIDS. • Only one third of HIV+ pregnant women receive ART • Only 26% of infected children receive ART • 70% of people infected with HIV do not know their status. • Estimated orphans: 300,000.
OVC Plans • Caribbean regional strategic framework for HIV/AIDS (2002-2007) does not make any reference to children living and affected by HIV and AIDS. • Few countries conducted situational assessments: Jamaica, Guyana, Belize, Trinidad and Tobago. • Child vulnerability study: Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia. • IPE: Index of Programming Effort (rapid assessment). • World Bank: Legal Protection mechanism study: Grenada, Guyana, Dominican Republic and St Lucia.
National Plans of Action: • Guyana: Not yet approved by Cabinet. • Jamaica plans exist • NPA for children not just OVC - Belize • Trinidad and Tobago: by end of 2007 will be in place. • Other countries not really a problem
Funding for 0VC: • PEPFAR: in both focus countries of the Caribbean i.e. Haiti and Guyana. Has reached more than 20,000 children. • Global Fund: Funding proposals address OVC. Guyana and Haiti. For the OECS not included yet. • UNICEF: Guyana, Jamaica, Haiti, Belize, Suriname. • Clinton Foundation office in St Lucia
Success and Challenges • Governments still not acknowledging OVC is a problem: HIV prevalence bn 1- 3% • Some encouraging developments in Guyana and Jamaica on the policy front. • Haiti still the best example in the region for working with civil society. • National NPAs may not be feasible for most of the countries. We may have to look at sub-regional NPAs. (OECS,OCT)
Role of Global IATT other regional mechanisms: • A regional Adoption of the framework for the protection and care of orphans and other vulnerable children.. • Making sure the new Caribbean Strategic Framework for HIV/AIDS 2008-2011 adequately covers children living and affected by HIV and AIDS. • A Caribbean specific regional forum • A Caribbean specific IATT . • The research Agenda.