Orphan crisis in sub-saharan Africa

Loads of Stats:

• 1990, fewer than 1 million sub-saharan African children under the age of 15 had lost one or both parents to HIV Aids
• At the end of 2001 (a decade on) 11 million in this same age group were orphans because of HIV/Aids, nearly 80% of the worlds total
• By 2010, 20 million in this age group are likely to be orphans from ths single cause, comprising half the total number of orphans expected in this region.
• Although HIV has reached almost every part of the world, no other region has been harder hit than sub-saharan Africa home to nearly ¾ of the worlds people living with AIDS (in which Malawi is the most densely populated and arguably the poorest of nations)
• By the end of 2002 over 29 million people in sub-saharan africa were infected with HIV, which is on an a steady increase every year. (that’s more than the population of Australia!!)
• Malawi is one of the most densly populated countries in Africa, when compared with Australia at a population of 20 million…?? Not really sure!!) and 12 million people squashed into a country that is just slightly smaller than Victoria. (with 20% of the country a lake!)
• 8 out of 10 children who have lost parents to HUV/AIDs live in subsarahan Africa. In the decade between 1990-2001 the population of orphans whose parents died from HIV-Aids rose from 3.5% - 32%, it was expected to double in the following decade!
• Infant mortality rate sits at 200 per 1000 births – 20%...however this is only recorded based on the registration of births…. The statistics may be much much worse especially considering the percentage of birth registrations:
Zambia – 10%
Tanzania – 6%
Uganda – 4%
Zimbabwe – 40%
Kenya – 60%
Rwanda – 70%

That’s a sample of a few… where’s Malawi… they didn’t even register on the graph!!! So are estimated at less than 2% of births being registered!!!

Malawi stats:
• 50% population less then 14 years of age
• 16% of the country are urbanized
• GNI $183US
• 15% of the population has HIV aids according to this study, although current reports for 2006 indicate on average in Malawi infection is at 25% of the population… higher in some regions, lower in others.
• 20% of all children are orphans
• 1 million orphans, of which 50% a result of HIV/Aids
• The 2006
• The estimated figures for 2010 indicate the same 20% of all children to be orphans, however due to population increase this is estimated at 1.2 million, With an increase of 15% in the primary cause of death of parents up to 65%
• The average number of orphan run households is at 20% with an average number of orphans per household at 1.7 per house.
• With a male headed home at 1.5 and a female headed homw at 1.9 (males are more reluctant to take in orphaned relatives than females are.