GENEVA, Dec 1 (AFP) - At least five million grandparents in Africa alone have gone back to being parents as a result of HIV/AIDS, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.

Some 12 million children in the continent have lost one or both parents in the pandemic, it said in a statement to mark World AIDS Day on Saturday.

"It is not unusual for grandmothers to be caring for 20 children," Jennifer Inger, of the International Federation said in a press release.

"The psychological strain of caring for terminally ill children and coping with their death can be devastating. The stress of taking on the burden of responsibility for orphaned grandchildren is also huge," she added.

Psychological and material support is therefore vital for elderly carers to ensure they are educated about HIV/AIDS prevention and given access to health services to keep them healthy while they care for dying or orphaned children, the Federation said.

It has set up a working group on the problem to draw up guidelines for programmes to keep children in the community and out of institutions, and provide support for elderly carers.

Inger cited examples in Malawi and Zimbabwe where community efforts support families hit by AIDS.

"In Malawi, Red Cross community gardens help to avoid these children and their elderly carers becoming trapped in poverty," she said.

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