2nd National Conference on Orphans and Other ... - FHI 360

Trauma associated with losing a parent,
which is in most cases exacerbated by the
threat of losing the second parent.
Witnessing the parent’s physical deterioration,
pain and death.
Having cared for the parent in their terminal
phase and often being blamed for causing
pain.
Anxiety about their source of livelihood and
their ability to retain the family home after
the parent’s death.
Keeping out of school and other activities
with peers in order to take responsibility in
the household.
Being infected themselves with HIV, facing
stigma in their communities and needing
palliative care.
Given the ministries’ commitment to the rights
of Namibian children and the fact that the OVC
numbers are increasing, there is the possibility
that the rights of the child will erode over time.
We all have a strategic interest in assisting the
Government of Namibia to ensure that OVC
continue to receive full support. Working with
the two key ministries (MoHSS and MWACW)
to achieve their goals, FHI and USAID will support
the following strategies within the framework
of the OVCNSC’s five-year work plan:
Strengthen an enabling environment at
the national level: Taking a rights-based
approach we will continue to support the work
of the OVCNSC and co-fund future national
conferences on OVC, which will continue to
bring together stakeholders from the public and
private sectors, and civil society, to address and
find solutions to the growing problem of OVC
in the country.
Build capacity of key stakeholders: We will
promote and sponsor active participation of key
stakeholders, OVC and partners in regional
seminars and meetings, and work with selected
stakeholders, NGOs and CBOs to build their
capacity through in-service training and participatory
workshops to enable them to provide
the best possible care and support for OVC.
Promote access to quality care and support:
We will continue to support “Full School
Participation for OVC”. This includes providing
assistance to communities and schools through
NGOs and FBOs to ensure that OVC are cared
for and have access to education. We will
continue to support the development of the
psychosocial curricula and training, which will
empower caregivers to improve the overall wellbeing
of OVC.
Improve capacity for monitoring and
evaluation: We will continue to support the
national OVC monitoring and evaluating
system to assist providers and recipients of OVC
services to collect quantitative and qualitative
information. This information will be used to
improve OVC services and strengthen communities
in caring for OVC.
We believe that this year’s conference will build
on the successes of last year’s conference, and
FHI and USAID are proud to have been partners
in the development of the national OVC
programme to ensure the future of the children
of Namibia. Thank you.
In thanking Ms De Buysscher, Ms Hiveluah
noted that it is gratifying to hear what FHI will
continue to do, most specifically in terms of
building capacity.
One of the handouts in the conference pack was
this compilation of essays by young Namibians,
co-sponsored by FHI (see full list of handouts with
publication details on p.79).
<strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children – Windhoek, Namibia, 25-27 June 2002: Full Report
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