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Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Orphans and Vulnerable Children

Orphans and Vulnerable Children

The Orphans and Vulnerable Children Department

Our aim is to ensure that children/adolescents are SAFE, SCHOOLED, STABLE, and HEALTHY.  We care about offering holistic services to improve the well-being of orphans and vulnerable children.

We also focus on equipping households to be resilient in the face of the socio-economic and emotional consequences of HIV/AIDS.

Services are provided in a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable manner using evidence-based interventions that focus on the  child, household and community.

In collaboration with the government of Nigeria, the OVC program is implemented in various communities through Community-Based Organizations (CBOs) in FCT, Nasarawa and Rivers States.

These CBOs are supported with funding and technical assistance to provide the following core services:

  • Psychosocial support
  • Education
  • Health & nutrition

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  • Legal and social protection
  • Household economic strengthening services.

All of this is towards an AIDS-free generation through programming for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. We target HIV-exposed infants, children and adolescents (<18 years old) infected or affected by HIV.

These include; children living with HIV who

  • have lost a parent or both to HIV/AIDS,
  • are directly affected by the disease, or live in areas of high HIV prevalence
  • are made vulnerable due to the socio-economic effects of HIV
  • living with HIV positive caregivers,
  • Children of key population, eg. Female Sex Workers
  • who suffer violence and abuse, and
  • at-risk adolescents (i.e. out-of-school, in poor households, exploited and abused).

Our work ensures that,

  • Children of adults living with HIV are provided with HIV testing services
  • Strategies are used to target orphans and vulnerable children who need HIV testing and offer them this service
  • All identified HIV-positive children are placed on antiretroviral treatment
  • Caregivers and HIV infected children under 18 years are offered with counseling and support to disclose their status to trusted ones, and adhere to treatment.
  • There is linkage of services provided in the health facility with services provided in the community
  • Staff of health facilities are trained about the services offered by the OVC program
  • Where necessary, Children Living with HIV are given accompaniment/escort services to clinical appointments
  • Communities are sensitized to reduce stigma and increase HIV testing.

Orphans and Vulnerable Children Team