Millennium Development Goal 6: Combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases

Because of HIV and AIDS, older people are facing the task of providing and caring for their sick adult children and grandchildren orphaned by AIDS, as well as themselves.

Surveys by HelpAge International in seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa show older people, mainly older women, care for 55% of children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS. Each carer is responsible for three children on average.

Nursing sick adult children, grieving over their death and caring for the grandchildren left behind imposes an enormous economic, social and psychological strain on older people.

In the words of grandmother Akeyo, a 74-year-old carer from Kenya who looks after 10 grandchildren. "It wasn’t supposed to be like this. These children’s parents were supposed to be taking care of me. Now they are dead and I am nursing their children."

Hope for the future

Within this gloomy picture, there is some hope. Mutually supportive relationships between older carers and orphaned and vulnerable children can develop, especially if older carers receive support and recognition of their role.

For Millennium Development Goal 6 to be achieved governments need to identify who cares for and educates vulnerable children and to provide them with the support they need.

The assignment

This feature will examine how the HIV and AIDS epidemic is creating new relationships between grandparents and grandchildren.

Is the role of older people recognised in HIV and AIDS responses? What support do older carers and their dependants need? What would happen if a grandparent didn’t step into this role?

Start your research by visiting:

Resources

Forgotten families: Older people as carers of orphans and vulnerable children

Stronger together: Supporting the vital role played by older people in the fight against the HIV and AIDS pandemic

Counting Carers: How to improve data collection and information on households affected by AIDS and reduce the poverty of carers, people living with HIV and vulnerable children

Internal links

Research and policy: HIV and AIDS

Worldwide: Strengthening AIDS-affected communities in Mozambique

Worldwide: Supporting older carers affected by AIDS in Africa

External links

WHO AIDS projects

ODI HPN article on the impact of HIV and AIDS on older people

DFID HIV and AIDS fact sheet

AIDSPortal page on older people affected by AIDS 

And visit the case studies listed on the right

More information

For further details about the competition and an online entry form, visit the Guardian website.

For more details about this assignment contact press@helpage.org