Zimbabwe is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa that has experienced an increase in the

number of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) as a result of the impact of HIV and AIDS
and has had its own challenges in responding to the OVCs crisis. The growing number of OVCs
has led to the emergence of community-based responses to address the needs of OVCs and as a
result, challenges have also emerged as these communities come together to provide care and
support for the OVCs. This paper discusses challenges faced by orphans and vulnerable children
(OVC) and their intervention strategies.

There exists a large number of ways to define orphans depending on the usage of the definition;
epidemiologically, legal or as a social and cultural definition (Skinner, 2004). The latter will vary
between people and societies. Therefore, an orphan is defined as a child less than 18 years of age
whose parents have died. There are three categories of orphan hood, a child who has lost a
mother is referred to as a maternal orphan, one who lost a father, a paternal orphan while a child
who has lost both parents is referred to as a double orphan. Vulnerable children are those “whose
safety, well-being, and development are, for various reasons, threatened” (Subbarao, 2004). Lack
of care and affection, adequate shelter, nutrition, education and psychological support are some
of the most important factors that accentuate the vulnerability of children. “Vulnerable” children
are defined according to the Zimbabwe National Action Plan (2004:11) as children subjected to a
wide range of social and economic difficulties and whose rights are threatened for example, the
rights to shelter, food, birth registration, education and treatment.

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has exacted a terrible toll on children and their families. During the 30
years of the global HIV epidemic, an estimated 17 million children have lost one or both parents
due to AIDS; 90 percent of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, 3.4 million
children under age 15 are living with HIV. Despite some decline in HIV adult prevalence
worldwide and increasing access to treatment, the number of children affected by or vulnerable
to HIV remains alarmingly high. The social and emotional effects of the disease are numerous
and profound. While poverty is at the core of many of these issues, HIV/AIDS deeply
complicates the environment both for the consequences of and the response to the epidemic. As a
result of the social effects, millions of children are left highly vulnerable, as they are more likely
to be victims of abuse, live in institutional care or on the street, and engage in hazardous and/or
exploitive labor.

More specifically, children who live with an ill adult or who have been orphaned by AIDS have
a dramatically greater risk of abuse and exploitation, school drop-out (as children leave school to
care for ailing family members), and psychosocial distress. Orphaned and vulnerable children are
also far more likely to move from being affected by the virus to becoming infected, as well as
facing other risks. This is especially true for adolescent girls who have lost a mother and who are
then more likely to engage in risky sexual behavior.

Howsoever, in Zimbabwe, traditional values are still maintained in most rural areas and this has
helped extended family safety-nets to remain preserved by having OVCs absorbed within
extended families. In responding to the OVC crisis in Zimbabwe and preserving the families
through networks, the traditional leadership has revived the traditional safety-net concept called
“Zhunde raMambo/Isiphala se Nkosi.” This is a traditional system in which chiefs or head of
villages reserve a piece of land for community use (BRTI: 2008:15). All families under the
jurisdiction of the chief contribute labor to till the land and tend the produce from the plot. The
produce is kept by the chief and then distributed to families in need of food and to OVCs.
However, the urbanized extended family safety-nets in Zimbabwe have been weakened by the
economic meltdown. In urban areas, there are no plots for communities to till the land and
produce food for OVCs, compared to their counterparts in rural communities.

UNICEF (2010:2) posit that OVCs are subjected to a wide range of social and economic
difficulties, psychosocial distress, stigma, grief, discrimination, isolation and economic
deprivation, loss of educational opportunities, burdensome domestic responsibilities and fear of
their own future. Due to these difficulties faced by OVCs, communities have responded to their
plight by initiating support for OVCs through community based organizations (CBOs).
Educational status is an important indicator of children’s wellbeing and future life opportunities.
It can predict growth potential and economic viability of a state. While this is an ideal situation
for all children, the case may be different for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) due to the
challenges they go through on a daily basis. As the number of OVC grows, communities become
less and less capable of addressing all their basic needs, including their ability to go to school
(UNICEF, 2009). Lack of support in education by parents/guardians will have a direct influence
on how OVC perform in education (Mwoma & Pillay, 2015). Interventions to overcome
educational challenges are therefore critical as education gives a child hope for life and work and
is a strong protector against HIV to which these children may be susceptible. In Zimbabwe, most
OVCs lose opportunities to attend or further pursue educational opportunities. Due to such, most
children end up in the streets, become sexually exploited or engaged in criminal activities. The
educational needs of OVCs are targeted through the government’s Basic Education Assistance
Module (BEAM) where communities identify OVCs and register them at schools for school fees
payment. The BEAM is administered through the Department of Social Welfare and it provides
guidance on how OVCs can be assisted with regard to school fees and examination fees. The
BEAM facility was launched by the Government in 2001. BEAM community selection
committees are responsible with the selection of OVCs eligible for the BEAM.

Furthermore, OVCs are medically disadvantaged and often lack proper medical assistance. This
is mainly due to economic hardships and inability to meet the financial position to acquire such
services. Therefore, in Zimbabwe there is a high prevalence of OVCs’ deaths that could have
somehow been avoided. To curb such challenges, especially in Zimbabwe, The Government
alongside other Community Based Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations has
implemented strategies to cater for such disadvantaged persons. This is through the Medical
Treatment Orders (MTO). the medical treatment order is a form of assistance provided by
government as a waiver or voucher to OVCs to facilitate access to government health services
such as clinics, provincial and national hospitals. The medical treatment orders facilitate access
to free health services at government health institutions by OVCs through the Department of
Social Welfare which is responsible of issuing vouchers for the provision of free medical
services to OVCs. The communities alert the Department of Social Welfare authorities of the
medical requirements of OVCs and apply for MTO on behalf of OVCs. However, since 2002 the
scheme has faced many challenges due to insufficient government funding, inefficiencies in the
health delivery system caused by, among others, a shortage of doctors.

In summary, although HIV prevalence is declining in Zimbabwe, OVC prevalence and incidence
continue to increase. Owing to an overstretched social fabric, some of these OVCs have been left
destitute without proper care and support, which leaves them at risk of abuse and exploitation
that may ultimately bring them into the HIV and poverty vicious cycle. Intervention strategies
including the Basic Education Assistance Module (BEAM), Medical Treatment Orders (MTO),
and Community Interventions were therefore designed to assist and revive the failing lives of
orphans and vulnerable children.
References

Biomedical Research and Training Institution (BRTI, 2008. Situational analysis of orphaned
and vulnerable children in eight Zimbabwean districts. Human Sciences Research Council: Cape
Town.

Mwoma, T. & Pillay, J. (2016). Educational support for orphans and vulnerable children in
primary schools: Challenges and interventions Issues in Educational Research.

Skinner, D. (2004). Defining orphaned and vulnerable children (Vol. 2). HSRC Press.

Subbarao, K. (2004). Reaching out to Africa's orphans: A framework for public action. World
Bank Publications.

UNICEF, 2009. OVC Research Workshop: From Analysis to Action in Zimbabwe. UNICEF:
Harare.

UNICEF. 2010. A Situational Analysis on the status of Women’s and Children’s Rights in
Zimbabwe 2005 – 2010. A Call for Reducing Disparities and Improving Equity.