africa: Forgotten families in the HIV/AIDS crisis

Older people caring for orphans and vulnerable children in countries severely affected by HIV/AIDS face hardship and isolation, and are in urgent need of support, according to a new report by HelpAge International and the International HIV/AIDS Alliance. The two organisations highlight the critical role of older carers in sustaining these vulnerable families, whose situation is rarely addressed in the debates around HIV/AIDS. They urge international and national agencies and donors to respond to the needs of these families, and help to ensure the wellbeing of the children who have lost their parents to AIDS.