The Hope for African children Initiative (HACI) is intended to be an innovative response to the challenge posed by the AIDS pandemic in Africa, focusing on children affected directly or indirectly by the disease. The aim is to address the entire child-focused prevention-care-mitigation continuum with mutually reinforcing program strategies. The proposed mission and core objectives of HACI are presented in exhibit 1.
Multiple interventions are needed to respond to the broad needs of children and their families and communities, fostering linkages between HIV/AIDs prevention activities, home-based care, and efforts to support orphans and other vulnerable children. Resources will be mobilized from the global community, and effective mechanisms introduced to ensure that resources and support move more directly to the communities that are caring for and supporting children affected by AIDS. A framework for collaboration will be needed both within countries where the HACI program is to be implemented and globally among international partners.
Five international NGOs - Plan International, CARE, Save the Children, the Society of Women Against AIDS in Africa, and the World Conference on Religion and Peace - have combined experience and resources to launch HACI. |