Social Protection for Children Affected by AIDS - Experiences

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Greetings from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), New Delhi!

UNICEF India office is conducting a study on social protection initiatives for

children affected by AIDS in India.

Social protection is a set of interventions whose objective is to reduce social

and economic risk and vulnerability, and to alleviate extreme poverty and

deprivation.

There is growing evidence highlighting the importance of social protection in

HIV prevention and treatment. Globally, studies have shown favourable impact of

social protection on structural inequalities that drive HIV and act as barriers

to HIV testing and treatment. Social protection positively influences areas like

access to primary health care and education, and women’s empowerment.

Evidence suggests the likely impacts of these related outcomes on children

affected by the epidemic. Nevertheless, it is evident that further operations

research is required.

Through the current study, UNICEF India intends to identify and list social

protection initiatives for children affected by HIV in India.

There are several initiatives supported and implemented by government,

development partners, corporate organisations, NGOs, and Community Based

Organisations (CBOs). The study would explore different models along the

continuum of care including but not limited to family-based or community-based

rehabilitation, foster care, group foster care, institutional care, and

adoption. In addition, there are other existing schemes and programmes of

various government departments like Health, Women and Child Development, and

Social Justice and Empowerment. The study would include such existing schemes

and programmes as well, whose benefits can be utilised by children affected by

AIDS.

In taking forward this study, I request your inputs on the following:

· What are your experiences with social protection interventions initiated to

provide services specifically for children affected by AIDS?

· Which are the other existing social protection programmes or schemes that can

benefit children affected by AIDS? How do such programmes and schemes benefit

children affected by AIDS?

· Please share brief information about all relevant interventions, programmes,

and schemes, including type of intervention, and name and contact details of the

implementing organisation.

Your responses will help us to identify, document, and disseminate promising

practices that provide comprehensive services to children affected by AIDS.

Further, we intend to use the knowledge generated to inform future planning and

policy guidance at national and state levels.

Thanking you,

Dr. Trikha,

UNICEF India Office,

New Delhi.