Orphans and Vulnerable Children - CRIN

Introduction and Objectives for Topic 3

Orphans and vulnerable children may suffer from poor health for a number of reasons:

• Their parents or guardians may be unable to take them to clinics


• They may lack money for transport and clinic fees


• Their guardians may lack knowledge about preventative healthcare


• Households and communities traumatised by HIV/AIDS or conflict situations may not
  recognise that the healthcare needs of a child are important and may neglect to care for
  children, including not giving them adequate food and treatment for illnesses.

These children will need healthcare support. However, a community-based programme cannot

provide all the services of primary healthcare institutions, but it can ensure that vulnerable children

are able to access the existing health facilities and resources to the same extent as other children.

Good health is defined as ‘the complete physical, mental, social and spiritual well-being of the child,

not merely the absence of disease’ (WHO). However, general health knowledge is necessary so

that an illness can be identified early and treated appropriately. Basic hygiene and sanitation practices

in a household can also help to ensure that children’s health is maintained.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this topic, participants will be able to:

 Describe the healthcare needs of OVC.

 Describe what immunisation means and why it is necessary.

 Describe what malaria is and how it can be prevented.

 Describe some of the common illnesses that children get, such as diarrhoea and how

to treat them.

 Describe good hygiene practices.

 Describe how good sanitation practices are important for health.

 Discuss safe drinking water.

 Discuss sexual and reproductive health.

 List barriers that prevent OVC from accessing healthcare.

 Discuss possible community-based initiatives to help OVC access healthcare.

(^238) Unit 2, Module 3 Guide to Mobilising and Strengthening Community-Led Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children