[Press Kit]

12

It was recognized early
on that because communities are in the best
position to assess their
own needs, they would
play an important role
in addressing the AIDS
orphan crisis. One of
the Government's main
strategies, therefore, has
been to promote and
support communitybased programmes.

Setting priorities early on
It was recognized early on that because
communities are in the best position to
assess their own needs, they would
play an important role in addressing
the AIDS orphan crisis. One of the
Government's main strategies, therefore, has been to promote and support
community-based programmes.
As early as 1991, the Government
of Malawi established a National
Orphan Care Task Force. The Task
Force - made up of national and district representatives from the Ministry
of Gender, Youth and Community
Services; the National AIDS Control
Programme (Ministry of Health and
Population); NGOs; religious organizations and UNICEF - is responsible
for planning, monitoring and revising
all programmes on orphan care.
One year later, in 1992, National
Orphan Care Guidelines were established. The guidelines serve as a broad
blueprint to encourage and focus subnational and community efforts. Over
the years, the guidelines have been
revised and have guided many of the
local and district efforts to support
orphans. The Government will use the
lessons learned from these initiatives to
develop a National Orphan Care Policy.
The Task Force has also established
a subcommittee that is reviewing
existing laws and legal procedures to
provide greater protection to vulnerable children. Recommendations for
modifying several laws to protect
orphans have been submitted to the

Ministry of Justice. These laws include
the Wills and Inheritance Act, the
Adoption Act, the Child and Young
Persons Act and the Foster Care Act. A
shortage of lawyers in the Ministry of
Justice, however, has significantly
delayed this process.
Core for the youngest
Researchers have thoroughly documented the importance of the pre- and
postnatal months and the first three
years of life in a child's development.
Concerned agencies such as UNICEF
and others are now making what is designated as "early childhood care for In
survival, growth and development" a
cornerstone of their child programmes.
Malawi has led the way in the
region on early childcare and development (ECCD), and its pioneering work
has been adopted by neighbouring
countries, including Zambia. ECCD,
which in Malawi covers children under
eight years of age, has played an especially important role in providing care
for the country's AIDS orphans.
Across the country, communitybased organizations, working closely
with district social welfare officers, are
setting up child-care centres with the
aim of improving the care of children
as well as increasing their learning
opportunities. At the centres, which
are for all children in the community,
children play, learn, socialize and eat.
Caregivers ensure that orphans in
their communities attend the centres
and benefit from their activities.