Aid needed as Aids-orphan numbers rise

Caring for orphaned children is a community effort

Statistics show that more than 15 million children under the age of 18 have been orphaned by Aids. About 12 million of these live in sub-Saharan Africa and it is expected that this number will rise to more than 18 million by 2010.

An estimated 1.1 million Aids orphans live in South Africa. In response to this Zola Skweyiya, the minister of social welfare and population development, has embarked on a countrywide campaign to mobilise communities assist in caring for orphans.

The mission kicked off in the Eastern Cape and then moved to KwaZulu-Natal - one of the worst affected provinces.

Skweyiya says the success of the campaign hinges on participation from the community. "We would accept any assistance that we could get. From the broad society to raise these children. It's not a government issue, it is an issue that all South Africans should participate in so no child should go to bed without food."

Partnerships with other departments is also crucial for social welfare to deal successfully with the problem, the minister says.