Govt sets new criteria for orphans

GOVERNMENT support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) will be redefined and categorised to reach those who need the support most, social workers and officials from the Ministry of Gender Equality and Child Welfare concluded during a three-day workshop this month.

Guardians or foster parents of orphans or vulnerable children until the age of 18 will be entitled to social grants if both parents are dead or unknown, or if one parent has died and the whereabouts of the other biological parent are not known. The Ministry will also give monthly grants to children if one parent is dead and the other earns below N$500 a month.A disability grant will also be paid, should the breadwinner in the family be disabled.Guardians of OVCs receive the maintenance and foster grants only if the child they are looking after is attending school.Closing the workshop at the end of last week, Deputy Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Angelika Muharukua said the meeting reviewed the action plan for OVCs.”The review was long overdue in order to provide a framework on which the performance of the OVC National Plan of Action will be measured and improved.The finalisation and definition of OVCs have now been accomplished.”Muharukua announced that the final action plan would be made public on June 15.The Deputy Minister called on welfare officials and social workers to see to it that vulnerable groups like the San receive identity cards and – in case of a death in the family – death certificates.”Without these documents, it is difficult for OVCs apply for grants and that goes for the Ovahimba communities as well,” Muharukua said.The plan was developed in 2004 for a five-year period from 2006 to 2010.It looks at five areas: OVC rights and protection, education, care and support, health and nutrition and management and networking regarding OVC issues.According to official predictions, Namibia will have 250 000 OVCs by the year 2021.A census conducted in 2001 revealed that about 97 000 children under 15 have lost one or both parents.The Ministry will also give monthly grants to children if one parent is dead and the other earns below N$500 a month.A disability grant will also be paid, should the breadwinner in the family be disabled.Guardians of OVCs receive the maintenance and foster grants only if the child they are looking after is attending school.Closing the workshop at the end of last week, Deputy Gender Equality and Child Welfare Minister Angelika Muharukua said the meeting reviewed the action plan for OVCs.”The review was long overdue in order to provide a framework on which the performance of the OVC National Plan of Action will be measured and improved.The finalisation and definition of OVCs have now been accomplished.”Muharukua announced that the final action plan would be made public on June 15.The Deputy Minister called on welfare officials and social workers to see to it that vulnerable groups like the San receive identity cards and – in case of a death in the family – death certificates.”Without these documents, it is difficult for OVCs apply for grants and that goes for the Ovahimba communities as well,” Muharukua said.The plan was developed in 2004 for a five-year period from 2006 to 2010.It looks at five areas: OVC rights and protection, education, care and support, health and nutrition and management and networking regarding OVC issues.According to official predictions, Namibia will have 250 000 OVCs by the year 2021.A census conducted in 2001 revealed that about 97 000 children under 15 have lost one or both parents.