PROJECTS | Tanzania | Healthcare and Hope for
Children Living with HIV/AIDS

There are an estimated 150,000 children (aged 0-15) living with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. The vast majority of HIV infections in children are transmitted from mother to child during birth. In Morogoro, CLHA often lack access to education, nutritious food, basic healthcare and proper care. Older siblings or grandparents are usually the ones responsible for proving care for CLHA, who themselves face a daily struggle for existence due to extreme poverty. Their situation is exacerbated because of discrimination they experience due to the association with HIV/AIDS and they often lack the knowledge needed to care for CLHA. Faraja’s Healthcare and Hope for Children Living with HIV/AIDS project provides support for 100 children in Morogoro each year through healthcare, psychosocial support and education.

Faraja Home Based Care Centre provides drugs to CLHA to prevent and treat opportunistic infections. People with HIV/AIDS are more vulnerable to infections such as tuberculosis, bacterial pneumonia, malaria and septicaemia. These opportunistic infections can be prevented using drug prophylaxis. The centre also provides food supplements to CLHA and refers children to government hospitals for antiretroviral therapy, which can significantly prolong their lives and reduce their suffering.

In addition to medical care, social workers at the centre provide counselling, physiotherapy and recreation/play activities for the children, which address the psychosocial and emotional needs of the children. Parents and other family members have the chance to share experiences with each other and CLHA are able to play and interact with other children from the neighbourhood, which reduces the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS.

Faraja supports the enrolment of CLHA in local primary schools and vocational training centres through the provision of school materials, fees, uniforms and equipment. Faraja also provides training for primary school teachers and caregivers, giving them the appropriate skills and knowledge needed to look after CLHA. This includes information about available support services, basic healthcare, nutrition and hygiene, and guidance on monitoring health and taking antiretrovirals. This training, in addition to ongoing support from Faraja, means that more CLHA are able to remain at home with their families even in the later stages of the disease, rather than being placed in institutionalised care.