HIV/AIDS and Childhood Disability

The global pandemic of HIV/AIDS has now entered its third decade. The impact of HIV/AIDS on individuals, families’ communities and the nation is increasing drastically and it has affected individuals and families physically, socially psychologically, emotionally and economically. Therefore every individual has a responsibility to guard against HIV infection, to fight its spread and to support those who are infected and affected in different ways. CWDs experience risk factors associated with HIV infection. In fact, they may be at increased risk because of additional vulnerabilities such as poverty, limited access to education and health care, lack of information and resources to facilitate 'safer sex,' lack of legal protection, increased risk of violence and rape etc. Little information exists about the burden of HIV among families of CWDs and CWDs in particular are vulnerable and are at risk to HIV infection.

The impact of HIV/AIDS on older people and the contribution older people are making to the care of orphans, CWDs and other children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS are enormous. As HIV/AIDS rates continue to increase across the world, many parents are dying, leaving increasing numbers of CWDS and other vulnerable children in the care of grandmothers.  KCH trained parent peer counselors who are involved in sensitizing communities about the effects of HIV/AIDS to a child with disabilities. These peer counselors also provide psychosocial support to families of CWDs.

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