Other vulnerable children

It is not only orphans who suffer as a result of the AIDS epidemic. Many other children are also affected. These are typically labelled as "vulnerable children" and include:

• Children living with parents who are sick or dying. These children may have to drop out of school to care for their parents and take on the responsibility of running the household. Girls are typically more affected in this way than boys. However, all the children in the family will experience the trauma of watching their parents become sicker and sicker. The family may have less food as money is spent on medical treatment and there are fewer adults to earn money.
• Children in a poor household may find limited resources stretched even further as the family takes in orphaned children from relatives. They all end up with less food and clothing.
• Children living with an infected sibling will have the psychological effects of watching their sibling's illness. Their parents time and energy may be diverted to caring for the sick child, leaving the healthy ones ignored. Precious money may be spent on medical bills.