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

SLIDE 1: TITLE – “OVC ONE YEAR ON”
You will remember that you gave us a mandate
last year and instructed us to report back to you
within a year. This presentation is an overview
of the work, work plans and achievements of
the OVCNSC during the last year. A copy of the
OVC five-year strategy with subgroup work plans
is contained in the conference handout pack.
SLIDE 2: CONFERENCE OUTCOMES
“STRATEGIES”
As you will recall, we came up with a number of
key strategies at our conference last year:
Develop a national home-based family and
orphan support programme.
Develop a plan of action to mobilise all stakeholders’
input for a co-ordinated response
to OVC.
Develop a national policy on OVC.
Strengthen the existing prevention and care
activities through a multi-sectoral and coordinated
process whereby they become
community owned and of direct benefit to
OVC.
Develop and strengthen existing networking
forums for OVC at all levels including the
constituency and regional levels.
SLIDES 3-4: WHAT HAVE WE LEARNT?
The UNICEF-supported study undertaken by
SIAPAC, titled “A Situation Analysis of Orphan
Children in Namibia”, was finalised shortly after
the conference last year, and the information it
contains has impacted on the OVCNSC’s work.
The Minister of Health and Social Services will
Report-back from
OVC <strong>National</strong> Steering
Committee (OVCNSC)
Ms Petronella Masabane
Deputy Director of Social Welfare Services,
DDSWS, MoHSS, and OVCNSC Chairperson
launch the study this afternoon on behalf of the
First Lady, but I would like to share with you
now some of the key findings:
By 2021 Namibia’s population will be 33%
lower due to AIDS.
As of 2001 there are an estimated 82 671
orphans in Namibia. By 2021 there will be
an estimated 251 054 orphans, 200 000 (¾)
of whom will be AIDS orphans.
As of 2001 it is estimated that half of all
orphans in Namibia are AIDS orphans. This
number will rise to some 75% by 2005 and
remain at over 75% until 2021.
In terms of AIDS orphans the ‘worst-affected’
areas of Namibia are currently the four northcentral
Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Oshana and
Omusati Regions, the north-eastern Caprivi
and Kavango Regions, and Windhoek in the
Khomas Region in central Namibia.
The four north-central regions ‘generate’
some 50% of all orphans and care for over
60% of all orphans. The Caprivi, Kavango
and Windhoek are the next worst affected.
As of 2001 orphans (AIDS and non-AIDS)
comprise an estimated 20% of all children
in Namibia aged 17 and younger, and this
will rise to 40% by 2021.
SLIDE 5: WHERE ARE WE NOW?
At its first meeting the OVCNSC planned to meet
every quarter, which brought us in line with this
year’s conference. All the elected members have
been committed, and all attended every meeting.
We also co-opted a number of members – key
role-players whose support is needed:
Church Benevolence Board of the Dutch
Reformed Church
2 <strong>2nd</strong> <strong>National</strong> <strong>Conference</strong> on Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children – Windhoek, Namibia, 25-27 June 2002: Full Report