Zimbabwe Has World's Highest Number Of Orphans Per Capita, UNICEF Official Says

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health;  Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses
Article Date: 23 Nov 2006 - 13:00 PST

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Zimbabwe has the world's highest number of orphans per capita, primarily because of the country's HIV/AIDS epidemic, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder said on Sunday, AFP/Mail and Guardian reports. He added that 90% of orphans in the country are being cared for by extended family and that the country's economic crisis makes it difficult to provide basic services -- including health care, nutrition and education -- to the children. In addition, the children's rights organization Child Protection Working Group on Sunday said child abuse cases in Zimbabwe are increasing, in part because of the belief that HIV and other sexually transmitted infections can be cured by having sex with a virgin. According to the organization, there were 8,600 child abuse cases in Zimbabwe in 2005 (AFP/Mail and Guardian, 11/19).

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