JOHANNESBURG, Oct 27, 2008 (AFP) - Fewer AIDS orphans are finding adoptive families in South Africa even as their numbers and the cases of abuse are growing steadily, social development minister Zola Skweyiya said Monday.
Of some 1.5 million AIDS orphans in the country, a tiny fraction of about 1,900 were adopted by South Africans last year, down nearly 13 percent from the year before, Skweyiya told reporters.
"South Africa is facing a challenge of increasing numbers of orphaned children, abandoned babies, worrying levels of abuse, neglect and exploitation of children," he told journalists in Pretoria.
The government provides support to about 238,000 AIDS orphans and to more than 20,000 homes where older children care for younger siblings after their parents die from the virus, he said.
"Some of these children have assumed adult responsibilities long before they are ready to do so," he said.
Nearly 495,000 AIDS orphans are in foster case, but he said more adoptions are needed so orphans can have permanent families.
"We encourage South African families to adopt children and provide them with permanent families and love. Foster care is a useful short-term intervention but cannot be the only solution," he said.
South Africa is battling one of the world's worst AIDS epidemics, with some 5.5 million of the 47 million population infected by HIV.
081027
AF081008
Copyright ©AFP 2008. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics. http://www.afp.com/
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Gill Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Quest Diagnostics, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. This article first appeared in 2008. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2008. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.