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ORPHANS
Estimations vary, but there are between 1,9 and 2,2 million orphans in Uganda. On a population of 27 million this is an extraordinary amount.
Why are there so many orphans in Uganda? Three reasons can be identified.
WAR
First, various armed struggles have demanded a heavy toll. During Idi Amin’s regime from 1971 – 1979 some 300.000 Ugandans lost their lives. Amin was deposed in the so-called bush-war by the National Resistance Army. Since 1986 Museveni has been in power, but his government has had to battle the Lord’s Resistance Army, and it has itself been involved in the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Rebel forces frequently make use of child soldiers. The Lord’s Rebel Army (LRA) has abducted over 30.000 children in 20 years; every night thousands of children flee their homes in Northern Uganda to escape being captured by the LRA. Captured girls are used as sex-salves; captured boys are trained as soldiers. The Civil Organizations for Peace in Northern Uganda report 146 violent deaths in Northern Uganda per week.
Malaria
The second factor is Malaria. World-wide Malaria kills over 1 million people a year, or about 3000 people a day. In Africa, Malria is the lead-killer of children under five. The Malaria epidemic has economic consequences: it causes death, reduces the productivity of agriculture and affects tourism and external investment. Malaria incidence is high and not improving.
Oftentimes Malaria epidemics are the result of war, local violence or natural disasters. According to the WHO, 30% of Malaria deaths in Africa are the result of such events – but the casualty rate that is the result of the Malaria epidemic is often far arger than the casualty rate of the original event. Displaced people living in makeshift housing are vulnerable to malaria because they are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes, are often ill with other infections, and lack access to health care.
AIDS/HIV
AIDS/HIV is the third reason there are so many orphans in Uganda. Sub Saharan Africa, where Uganda lies, bears the heaviest burden of the epidemic. 64% of those living with AIDS/HIV world-wide live in this region, while 97% of AIDS related deaths occur in this region. In Uganda, HIV is transmitted through heterosexual contact. Poverty, underdevelopment and illiteracy contribute to the spread of HIV – and HIV in turn aggravates poverty and hinders development efforts.
Uganda was hit hard. Tribal culture made it difficult to form a healthy response: witchcraft and superstition as well as fear led to a slow government response. The epidemic was able to spread very quickly, spreading to all parts of the country. By the end of 1992 it was estimated that 18,3% of the population carried the HIV virus. In some places it was as high as 30%.
Much has happened to combat the epidemic and today many cite Uganda as an example of success in the fight against AIDS. Certainly tremendous progress has been made. Still, today incidence rate in Kampala, where Child’s Destiny of Hope is active, is at 9%, the highest in the country.
The Ugandan ministry of Health estimates that over 940.000 people have died as a result of the AIDS epidemic since 2001.
The life of an orphan in Uganda
And so there are at least 19,9 million children in Uganda who have lost either one or both parents. One in four families have adopted an orphan. In a country where the average income is $249 per year, few of these orphans have a meaningful chance at an education, healthcare, an occupation. Child’s Destiny of Hope would like to impact this situation by creating Children’s homes all over Uganda.
More info
- Malaria Atlas Project [link]
- WHO Global Malaria Programme [link]
- Malaria on Wikipedia [link]
- The Microcredit Summit Campaign [link]
- Child Soldiers on Wikipedia [link]
- Invisible Children, a move on Child Soldiers on Wikipedia [link]
- AIDS in Uganda [link]
- Uganda Aids Commission [link]
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