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Orphan Status
Source: Situational Analysis of VC of 2011
Extended family of orphans, where parents have passed away as a result of HIV and
AIDS, are not supportive of children. It is commonly these circumstances which lead to
property grabbing of an orphans inheritance. Even where extended family is willing to
care for an orphaned child, high levels of unemployment mean they may be financially
unable to do so.
Despite the improved legislative environment surrounding residential care facilities,
there are some facilities which do not comply with standards. The GoL does not have
government run centre and many facilities are at capacity, which means that substandard facilities cannot be closed for lack of space for children to reside elsewhere.
Better referral services are needed between police, care facilities, hospitals and MoSD
so that actor’s roles are clear at each and every stage of the process. Although
legislation envisages children being cared for by unrelated adults under foster care, no
such private foster homes exist. There is also no plan for the development of such a
system in the future.