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

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.