What Works for Women and Girls

ather than a narrowly defined HIV/AIDS program, this may have reduced the stigmaattached to OVCs. Linking HIV prevention, testing and care with income generation forwomen may increase care and support for OVC (Bossou et al., 2008). (Abstract) (OVC,community-based care, stigma, Côte d’Ivoire)8. Community meetings may reduce stigma against OVC.A post-test cross sectional study conducted in Kenya (year not mentioned) with 2,472OVC adult guardians (92% female) showed that guardians exposed to curriculum-basedanti-stigma community meetings had more positive attitudes towards OVC and PLHAthan guardians not exposed to community meetings. OVC guardians who attendedmeetings were twice as likely (51%) as non-attendees (27%) to have ever been tested forHIV (Thurman et al., 2008). (Abstract) (OVC, stigma, Kenya)Gaps in Programming—Orphans and Vulnerable Children1. Increased financial support is needed for adults, especially grandparents, caring fororphans.2. Increased psychosocial support is needed for caregivers.3. Interventions are urgently needed to help girls enroll (and stay) in school.4. HIV/AIDS programming should also reach young children.5. Improved and timely access to antiretrovirals is needed for orphans.6. Interventions are needed to assist parents dying of AIDS with planning for the futurewell-being of their children.7. Further interventions to provide support programs, including counseling, are neededfor AIDS-orphaned children to combat depression, social isolation and stigma.8. Further interventions are needed to help female OVCs reduce risky sexual behaviorsand protect them from sexual violence.9. Programs should encourage male involvement in children’s treatment and orphancare.10. NGO and government interventions must take care not to create dependence onexternally funded services and decrease the community’s sense of responsibility forOVC.WHAT WORKS FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS365