South Africa
South Africa, the country at the Cape of Good Hope, has a population of over 56 million people. With a prevalence rate of 18.9%, it is one of the most HIV/AIDS-affected countries in the world.
Strengthening the health and well-being of children affected by HIV
In South Africa, more than a quarter of a million HIV-positive children are growing up, many also as orphans and in great poverty. With three projects in South Africa, we want to work with our local partners to sustainably improve the health and well-being of children affected by HIV and their caregivers.
South Africa in numbers
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Maternal Mortality
119 deaths per 100,000 births
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Infant mortality under 5 years
34.5 deaths per 1,000 births
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HIV spread
18.9%
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Doctors per 10,000 people
9 (Switzerland: 44)
South Africa in numbers
South Africa
SolidarMed in South Africa
With the three projects "Children for Change", "Window of Hope" and "Ilitha", SolidarMed and its local partners support 3385 children and adolescents as well as 1780 parents and caregivers in the Tzaneen region, Johannesburg and East London and provide health, education and economic stability.
Window of Hope:
Many of the poverty- and HIV-affected children, adolescents, and adults in Johannesburg townships face the additional challenges of losing one or both parents, poor education, and violence. SolidarMed and the local organization Sophiatown Community Psychological Services (SCPS) conduct targeted individual and group therapeutic interventions with the affected individuals as part of the Window of Hope project. These trauma processing sessions lead children, adolescents and adults affected by HIV and poverty to become more positive about the future and take control of their own lives.
Children for Change:
Many people in the villages of Nkambako, Mavele and Mandlakhazi in Limpopo Province, South Africa, live lives where HIV/AIDS, poverty, low education and a health system that functions only to a limited extent are omnipresent. Together with the local partner organization CHoiCe and in close cooperation with the state health system, SolidarMed is therefore committed to improving the physical and mental health of HIV-positive and HIV-affected children and their caregivers with a wide range of measures. These include, for example, household visits and courses on how to manage finances more efficiently.
Ilitha:
HIV- and poverty-affected children and adolescents in informal settlements and farms around East London, South Africa, often do not experience the parental affection, education, stimulation, schooling and medical care they would need for healthy development. Since 2017, local partner organization Jika Uluntu and SolidarMed have been committed to ensuring that these children do not end up in the vicious cycle of poverty - poor education - lack of work and prospects, where HIV can also easily spread further. They support families in strengthening the parent-child relationship, increasing physical and mental health and help with household budgeting issues. Thus, the children's chances for a better future also increase.
Contact
Patrick Thomas
Programmes Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, India
Tel. +41 41 310 66 60
p.thomas@solidarmed.ch
Projects in South Africa
SolidarMed, together with its local partner organizations, helps poverty- and HIV-affected, traumatized children and caregivers break the cycle of depression and helplessness and supports them in actively and responsibly shaping their lives.
