Namibian children battle poverty, HIV, sex abuse

By: CARMEN HONEY

THE major risks to children in Namibia stem from poverty, HIV-AIDS and sexual abuse while poverty, conflict and HIV-AIDS are cited as the biggest threats to the children of the world in this year's State of the World's Children's Report.

"These issues can slow down or even reverse the good progress

Namibia has made on meeting national and international development

goals set out in Vision 2030, the Second National Development Plan

and the Millennium Development Declaration," according to the

Namibian supplement to this year's United Nations Children's Fund

(Unicef) report on the status of children worldwide.

Entitled 'Children Under Threat in Namibia', it acknowledges the

'enormous strides' the Government has made in efforts to uplift the

population's living standards.

 

"Yet, for the majority of Namibians, poverty is still a hard

reality; about 34 per cent live on less than U$1 (about N$6) a day

and about 55 per cent live on less than U$2 (about N$12) a day,"

the supplement reported.

 

Many families live in poor conditions without access to

sanitation.

 

Close to half of Namibian families have to walk for more than 15

minutes to collect water.

 

"With about 85 per cent of poor households located in rural

areas, children in the Ohangwena, Caprivi and Omusati regions are

particularly threatened by child poverty."

 

SLOW, BUT STEADY

 

While Namibia is not among the countries with stagnating or

rising rates in child mortality, the National Planning Commission

in 2001 estimated that for every 1 000 live births, 52 children die

before the age of one and 71 before the age of five.

 

"In comparison to a decade ago, there is a clear but slow

increase of the proportion of children surviving."

 

Unicef feels, however, that this progress will slow down because

of the impact of HIV-AIDS.

 

One of the leading causes of illness and death in children under

five is malaria.

 

The supplement suggests making low-cost, insecticide-treated bed

nets (to prevent mosquito bites) available to all families in

high-risk malaria regions.

 

While there are no studies on the impact of HIV-AIDS on the

health sector, low and stagnating immunisation coverage may be a

symptom of the sector's weakening capacities because to

HIV-AIDS.

 

Poverty also deprives children of basic education.

 

The supplement says almost 94 per cent of all 7 to 13-year-olds

are in school and the enrolment of San children increased by about

12 per cent within a year, yet other children living in informal

settlements and whose parents work on farms do not benefit from

school and these numbers are rising.

 

Keeping children in school is another issue, with 2001 education

statistics revealing that 15 per cent of children do not make it to

grade seven and about half of those eligible for secondary school

are not enrolled.

 

"There are indications that poverty, hunger and teenage

pregnancy play a key role," according to the supplement.

 

It went on that the "massive increase" in the number of children

affected and orphaned by HIV and AIDS would have a major effect on

keeping children in school.

 

BIGGEST CHALLENGE

 

It describes HIV-AIDS as Namibia's biggest development

challenge.

 

The epidemic is weakening the quality of public service delivery

and the capacity of families and communities to care for

children.

 

"The rate of new HIV infections may be slowing down. However,

people who have been infected years ago are now falling sick and

dying, with children losing their parents and other

caregivers."

 

HIV-AIDS forces children out of school and makes them more

vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, violence, stigma and

discrimination.

 

"Particularly affected is the increasing number of orphans and

vulnerable children," the supplement said, adding that the 2001

Census indicated there were more than 97 000 orphans up to the age

of 15.

 

Estimates show the country would have over 250 000 orphans by

2021, meaning one in 10 will be orphaned.

 

"It is estimated in 2004 that about two thirds of all orphans

were orphaned by AIDS," according to the supplement.

 

With the rise in orphan numbers comes an increase in

child-headed households.

 

The recommendation here is a multi-pronged approach to address

the multiple impacts of HIV-AIDS on families and communities

increasingly overburdened by the extra number of dependants.

 

"Child abuse is widespread, serious and increasingly

acknowledged as a major problem in Namibia," according to the

supplement.

 

Statistics from the Women and Child Protection Unit in Windhoek

for 2001-2002 suggest that one in five reported cases of domestic

violence involves a minor.

 

Reports also indicate that the percentage of young children who

are raped is much higher.

 

Abused children suffer not only physical injury, such as

irreparable injuries to their genitals and infections, but lifelong

psychological effects.

 

As adults, sexually abused children and those who have witnessed

violence against their mothers or siblings are said to be at higher

risk of becoming abusers themselves.

 

"With the high prevalence of HIV infection, sexual abuse has

become life threatening," the supplement stated.

 

ESSENTIAL STEPS

 

Its recommendations suggest poverty reduction interventions must

begin with children and involve a range of community members who

can be trained as community health workers.

 

Efforts need to be continued to bring marginalised children into

school.

 

"For children affected and infected by HIV-AIDS, a first

essential step is to keep HIV-positive parents and critical service

providers (teachers, health workers etc) alive with priority

provision of Antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and care," the

supplement said, adding:"Efforts are also needed to strengthen

family capacities and the ability of communities to assist

child-headed households, street children and other young people who

do not enjoy a protective family environment."

 

Prevention must be the focus when it comes to stopping sexual

abuse of children.

 

"Local and community leaders need to take on the responsibility

to stem the spread of this social evil, "the 'Childhood Under

Threat in Namibia' supplement suggests.

 

Entitled 'Children Under Threat in Namibia', it acknowledges the

'enormous strides' the Government has made in efforts to uplift the

population's living standards."Yet, for the majority of Namibians,

poverty is still a hard reality; about 34 per cent live on less

than U$1 (about N$6) a day and about 55 per cent live on less than

U$2 (about N$12) a day," the supplement reported.Many families live

in poor conditions without access to sanitation.Close to half of

Namibian families have to walk for more than 15 minutes to collect

water."With about 85 per cent of poor households located in rural

areas, children in the Ohangwena, Caprivi and Omusati regions are

particularly threatened by child poverty."SLOW, BUT STEADY While

Namibia is not among the countries with stagnating or rising rates

in child mortality, the National Planning Commission in 2001

estimated that for every 1 000 live births, 52 children die before

the age of one and 71 before the age of five."In comparison to a

decade ago, there is a clear but slow increase of the proportion of

children surviving."Unicef feels, however, that this progress will

slow down because of the impact of HIV-AIDS.One of the leading

causes of illness and death in children under five is malaria.The

supplement suggests making low-cost, insecticide-treated bed nets

(to prevent mosquito bites) available to all families in high-risk

malaria regions.While there are no studies on the impact of

HIV-AIDS on the health sector, low and stagnating immunisation

coverage may be a symptom of the sector's weakening capacities

because to HIV-AIDS.Poverty also deprives children of basic

education.The supplement says almost 94 per cent of all 7 to

13-year-olds are in school and the enrolment of San children

increased by about 12 per cent within a year, yet other children

living in informal settlements and whose parents work on farms do

not benefit from school and these numbers are rising.Keeping

children in school is another issue, with 2001 education statistics

revealing that 15 per cent of children do not make it to grade

seven and about half of those eligible for secondary school are not

enrolled."There are indications that poverty, hunger and teenage

pregnancy play a key role," according to the supplement.It went on

that the "massive increase" in the number of children affected and

orphaned by HIV and AIDS would have a major effect on keeping

children in school.BIGGEST CHALLENGE It describes HIV-AIDS as

Namibia's biggest development challenge.The epidemic is weakening

the quality of public service delivery and the capacity of families

and communities to care for children."The rate of new HIV

infections may be slowing down. However, people who have been

infected years ago are now falling sick and dying, with children

losing their parents and other caregivers."HIV-AIDS forces children

out of school and makes them more vulnerable to exploitation,

abuse, violence, stigma and discrimination."Particularly affected

is the increasing number of orphans and vulnerable children," the

supplement said, adding that the 2001 Census indicated there were

more than 97 000 orphans up to the age of 15.Estimates show the

country would have over 250 000 orphans by 2021, meaning one in 10

will be orphaned."It is estimated in 2004 that about two thirds of

all orphans were orphaned by AIDS," according to the

supplement.With the rise in orphan numbers comes an increase in

child-headed households.The recommendation here is a multi-pronged

approach to address the multiple impacts of HIV-AIDS on families

and communities increasingly overburdened by the extra number of

dependants."Child abuse is widespread, serious and increasingly

acknowledged as a major problem in Namibia," according to the

supplement.Statistics from the Women and Child Protection Unit in

Windhoek for 2001-2002 suggest that one in five reported cases of

domestic violence involves a minor.Reports also indicate that the

percentage of young children who are raped is much higher.Abused

children suffer not only physical injury, such as irreparable

injuries to their genitals and infections, but lifelong

psychological effects.As adults, sexually abused children and those

who have witnessed violence against their mothers or siblings are

said to be at higher risk of becoming abusers themselves."With the

high prevalence of HIV infection, sexual abuse has become life

threatening," the supplement stated.ESSENTIAL STEPS Its

recommendations suggest poverty reduction interventions must begin

with children and involve a range of community members who can be

trained as community health workers.Efforts need to be continued to

bring marginalised children into school."For children affected and

infected by HIV-AIDS, a first essential step is to keep

HIV-positive parents and critical service providers (teachers,

health workers etc) alive with priority provision of Antiretroviral

(ARV) treatment and care," the supplement said, adding:"Efforts are

also needed to strengthen family capacities and the ability of

communities to assist child-headed households, street children and

other young people who do not enjoy a protective family

environment."Prevention must be the focus when it comes to stopping

sexual abuse of children."Local and community leaders need to take

on the responsibility to stem the spread of this social evil, "the

'Childhood Under Threat in Namibia' supplement suggests.

---