AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #384 - Session summary:
Authors: Presenting Author: Mrs Noreen M Huni - REPSSI
Additional Authors:
Aim: Session summary: Thirty years into the AIDS epidemic, one of its lasting repercussions has been its devastating impact on children, families, and their communities. By 2010, 18.4 million children living in Sub-Saharan Africa are estimated to have been orphaned by AIDS. Although there are exciting developments in prevention, treatment, and care, research and reports from the field reveal considerable, and multiple social consequences of this epidemic on families, and especially on children. Among other things children experience high levels of stigma, anxiety and depression1,2. In addition, the severe decline in capacity of social workforce compromises efficient social service delivery. In Zimbabwe, the ratio of children to social workers is just under 50,000 to 1. Even in countries with higher GDP, and much stronger social service systems, such as Botswana and Namibia, the rates are just under 2000 and 4300 respectively. As a regional, non-profit organization operating in 13 countries in East and Southern Africa, the epicentre of the epidemic, the Regional Psychosocial Support Initiative (REPSSI) responds to the critical need to mitigate the negative interplay between HIV and AIDS, conflict, and poverty upon the psychosocial wellbeing of affected children and youth, their families and communities in the region. Since its inception, REPSSI has focused on supporting communities to shift from victims to actors, developing applicable approaches and tools, and creating demand for psychosocial support (PSS). This session reports on community experiences from the field ranging from research on impact of PSS in communities to government and organizational experiences in mainstreaming PSS and reporting personal change through a community-based certificate programme. These four presentations provide a broad overview of the salience of incorporating psychosocial support into community-based programmes focussed on alleviating the negative impact of HIV and AIDS. 1Cluver L, Gardner F, Operario D. Effects of stigma on the mental health of adolescents orphaned by AIDS. Journal of Adolescent Health. 2008;42:410-7. 2Langhaug LF, Pascoe SJS, Mavhu W, Woelk G, Sherr L, Hayes RJ, et al. High prevalence of mental ill-health among adolescents living in rural Zimbabwe. Journal of Community Health. 2010;35:355–364.
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