Abstract

The concept of Orphans and Vulnerable AIDs children has gained value in the world with the adoption of the UDHR by the united nation General Assembly, Family health international, on December 10, 1948, for the promotion, protection of peoples rights.

It has encouraged the signing of many Conventions. Cameroon is a signatory to these conventions for the promotion and protection of the rights of these very unprivileged ones.

Though the family health international, UNICEF, and other conventions have been active in the protection of orphan vulnerable children, some countries still fail to know that human beings have rights inherent in them from birth and are supposed to be considered as being inviolable and inalienable.

Despite the pledge in the 1996 preamble constitution of Cameroon, it is discouraging to know that human beings like orphans and vulnerable children in Cameroon, whom we say are the future leaders of tomorrow have been experiencing on daily basis, constant violation of their rights and the government remains quiet to these miserable conditions of orphan and vulnerable children in Cameroon.

Legal protection, let the government develop strategies to ensure basic legal rights, birth, registration, and inheritance right to improve access to essential services and opportunities.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.10 Background to the study

AIDS which is known as Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome is known to be the sixth deadliest disease in the world. In the year 2009, some 33.3million people were living with Human Immune Virus (HIV) and 2.5 million of them were children under the age of 15 years and about 15.9 million were women.

It is said that over 7000 persons became infected with HIV and about 5000 persons died from AIDS mostly because of inadequate access to HIV prevention care and treatment services. (Dosomething.org).

In Africa, since the beginning of the epidemic, it is reported that over 15 million Africans have died from AIDS and nearly two-thirds of all people living in sub-Saharan Africa, and it was estimated in 2010 that over 15.7million children will be orphans due to AIDS (UNICEF: children affected by AIDS), although this region contains only about 10% of the world’s population.

In Cameroon, in 2005, it was estimated that people living with HIV/AIDS from 15 years and above were 470,000 while children from 0-14 years were 43000 and also the number of deaths was 46000 (UNICEF: children affected by AIDS, 2006).

Thus AIDS is seen to have a great impact on people and it has affected children in a number of ways. They may live a high risk of HIV: they may live with a chronically ill parent and may be required to work or put their education on hold as they take on household and caregiving responsibilities.

Their household may experience greater poverty because of the disease and they can be subject to stigma and discrimination because of their association with a person living with HIV/AIDS and also they can become orphans having lost one or both parents to AIDS.

Thus this research paper is out to examine the impacts of this epidemic of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable children in the Mamfe Municipality. It is also known as the Mamfe Central, it is in the Manyu Division, found in the South West Region of the Republic of Cameroon.

It is the city and capital of the Manyu Division. It is located 60km (37mi) from the borders of Nigeria on the Manyu Rivers. It is known as a center for traditional religion and traditional medicine. This division is divided administratively into four (4) sub-division and in every sub-division, there are villages.

The villages are Akwaya, Eyumojock, Upper Bayang, and Mamfe Central. Mamfe is 413 facts above sea level and is located at 50 43N, 90 16 E, about 60 km from the Nigerian border. It stands on the Badi River (Manyu/Cross Rivers).

The factory/mill and main offices of MACEFCOOP are located in Mamfe. Manyu is a department of the South West Region in Cameroon. The department covers an area of 9,565km2 and as of 2001 had a total population of 177,389.

The capital of the department lies at Mamfe. They have a district hospital that has only two doctors and it also has integrated health centers. There are few hotels in the area since tourism is beginning in the area.

Some points of interest are the old German bridge, the Mamfe cross, the Mamfe River by boat and the Mamfe Cathedral, numerous bars, a number of youth associations, vocational training center, primary and secondary, public and private schools.

1.11 Statement of the problem

According to a UNICEF report of 2009 in Cameroon, children ranging from 0-17 orphaned by AIDS were estimated 330,000, and children orphaned by all causes were estimated at 1.2,000.

However, little attention has been paid to the impact of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable children in the Manyu Municipality.

Thus, there is the need to examine the extent to which HIV/AIDS affected children from 0-18 negatively. The following research questions capture the problem of the study.

1. How can OVC be recognized in the Manyu Municipality?
2. What impact does HIV/AIDS have on OVC’s?
3. What impact does HIV/AIDS have on the socio-economic development of the South West Region (Manyu Division) in particular?
4. What solution can be contributed to the progressive reduction of this phenomenon?

1.12 Hypothesis

The following hypothesis would be used to test the impact of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable children in the Mamfe Municipality.

1. The perception of OVC’s in the Mamfe Municipality on the impact of HIV/AIDS is influenced by their educational level.
2. The impact of HIV/AIDS on vulnerable children in the Mamfe Municipality influence the perception of the respondents as a result of their year of service

• The understanding of the OVC’s in the Mamfe Municipality on the impact of HIV/AIDS is influenced by their sex.

1.13 Objectives of the study

This is aimed at analyzing the impacts of HIV/AIDS in the socio-economic development of the South West and Manyu Division as a whole and also the role played by the government and the non-governmental organization in resolving the puzzle. Thus, there are the following objectives in the paper.

1. To determine recommendations for policy obtain and further reading.
2. To assess local and nationwide awareness on the impact of HIV/AIDS in this locality.
3. To identify the solutions that can contribute to the progressive reduction of this phenomenon.