Orphaned by AIDS, Millions of Children Left Alone

There is a serious problem growing in the world today. Millions of children are being orphaned by the AIDS epidemic and according to UNAIDS, the world is not doing nearly enough to combat this issue. In fact, UNAIDS estimates that over 18 million children will be orphaned by the disease by years end. UNICEF director Ann M. Veneman said “Children are missing from the world’s response to the global AIDS pandemic. Less than 10 per cent of the children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS receive public support or services.” Less than 10 per cent? This means over 16 million infants and children will NOT recieve the help they need.

Aids awareness group AVERT is working to bring some attention to this issue. Even with antiviral treatments, the problem is estimated to be ‘overwhelmingly high’ by 2015 according to UNAIDS.

According to the UN, the sub Saharan African region is home to 34million orphans, 11million orphanced by AIDS. Several countries in Sub Saharan Africa are faced with over a million orphaned children each due to AIDS. But what can we as individuals do? According to Avert, the solution to this crisis is threefold. New HIV infections must be prevented, antiretroviral treatments must be made more readily available and third, the current orphaned children must be cared for. A commitment to AIDS education can help prevent the spread of the disease and antiretroviral treatment is becoming more readily available.

We at Ready Made hope to be a part of the third step of this solution. As Nelson Mandela said at the close of the 2000 International Aids Conference in South Africa;

“. . . in this interdependent and globalized world, we have indeed again become the keepers of our brother and sister. That cannot be more graphically the case than in the common fight against HIV/AIDS.

Therefore, there must be a partnership between business and the community; without that, this battle will not be won; and also to use the skills, the experience, the research that have been conducted all over the world in order to enlighten our people as how to approach this tragedy.

In the face of the grave threat posed by HIV/AIDS, we have to rise above our differences and combine our efforts to save our people. History will judge us harshly if we fail to do so now, and right now.”

We are commited to the humanitarian cause of feeding the orphaned infants left behind by this horrible epidemic. It is easy to see just how wide spread this problem has become and the end is not yet in sight. Please help us raise awareness of this problem and work with us to become part of the solution. Share this article and let others know about the millions of children who have been left alone.