MOWAC, MMDE, MoEYS, GAC in Partnership with UNICEF, World Bank and POLICY Project MOWAC, MMDE, MoEYS, GAC in Partnership with UNICEF, World Bank and POLICY Project Towards An ECCD HIV/AIDS Action Plan for Ghana

Setting the Stage: Background

Where we are, …. Actions to Date Began consultative process with various partners (MDAs, GAC, UNICEF, World Bank, POLICY Project) Began consultative process with various partners (MDAs, GAC, UNICEF, World Bank, POLICY Project) Drafted ECD HIV/AIDS background paper Drafted ECD HIV/AIDS background paper ECCD National Policy soon to be adopted ECCD National Policy soon to be adopted OVC policy guidelines development in motion - process is also consultative and participatory OVC policy guidelines development in motion - process is also consultative and participatory

Introduction/Background 1 st AIDS case in 1986; 42 cases reported 1 st AIDS case in 1986; 42 cases reported By Sept 2003, 72,200 AIDS cases By Sept 2003, 72,200 AIDS cases HIV prevalence 2.6% in 1984; 3.4% in 2002 HIV prevalence 2.6% in 1984; 3.4% in 2002 The Eastern region has a prevalence rate of 7.9%. Six of the twenty-four sentinel sites had prevalence rates above 5%. The Eastern region has a prevalence rate of 7.9%. Six of the twenty-four sentinel sites had prevalence rates above 5%. 2.9% of AIDS cases among children 0-9 yrs; 2.3% among 0-4 yrs 2.9% of AIDS cases among children 0-9 yrs; 2.3% among 0-4 yrs UNDP assessment of AIDS orphans estimated 170,000 UNDP assessment of AIDS orphans estimated 170,000

Country Profile

The Status of Young Children

Policies Constitution of Ghana Constitution of Ghana Childrens Act 560 Childrens Act 560 Draft ECCD Policy Draft ECCD Policy Draft National HIV/AIDS Policy Draft National HIV/AIDS Policy National OVC Policy being developed National OVC Policy being developed GPRS GPRS Sectoral Policies ( education, health, social welfare) Sectoral Policies ( education, health, social welfare) Revised Population Policy 1994 Revised Population Policy 1994

Gaps Policies address children 0-18 yrs, except ECCD policy that targets children 0-8 yrs Policies address children 0-18 yrs, except ECCD policy that targets children 0-8 yrs Information and programme needs for children 0-8 yrs impacted by HIV/AIDS Information and programme needs for children 0-8 yrs impacted by HIV/AIDS Moving from Policy to Action Moving from Policy to Action Several low level community-based initiatives that need to be strengthened and sustained Several low level community-based initiatives that need to be strengthened and sustained

Capacities for coping with HIV/AIDS Most care (93%) is provided by Families Most care (93%) is provided by Families 1/3 of orphans supported by female grand parents 1/3 of orphans supported by female grand parents Communities, faith-based organizations, Traditional leaders and Institutions also provide some care Communities, faith-based organizations, Traditional leaders and Institutions also provide some care Huge need among families, communities and institutions for more organized and sustained support systems Huge need among families, communities and institutions for more organized and sustained support systems Examples: Manya Krobo Queen Mothers, Widows Association in Obuasi etc Examples: Manya Krobo Queen Mothers, Widows Association in Obuasi etc

Stigma associated with Young Children affected by HIV/AIDS Stigma still an issue due to low prevalence of epidemic Stigma still an issue due to low prevalence of epidemic However, targeted interventions do exist in high prevalence areas However, targeted interventions do exist in high prevalence areas Specifically in targeted intervention areas stigma is minimum due to the type of care-giving arrangements in practice – community based support thru traditional leaders Specifically in targeted intervention areas stigma is minimum due to the type of care-giving arrangements in practice – community based support thru traditional leaders

Access to Day Care and Pre-School Number of Day care centres – 2,876 Number of Day care centres – 2,876 Day-care enrolment 0-3 yrs - 231,624 Day-care enrolment 0-3 yrs - 231,624 Trained attendants – 4,836; untrained 5,697 Trained attendants – 4,836; untrained 5,697 Less than 20% of public pre-school teachers are trained Less than 20% of public pre-school teachers are trained Pre-school enrolment 44% Pre-school enrolment 44% 10,000 pre-schools 10,000 pre-schools A lot, but unstructured A lot, but unstructured Grandparents/Families support etc Grandparents/Families support etc Non-formal ECD Activities and Enrolment

Intervention areas Delivery of services to young children integrated across sectors ( encompass survival, protection and development; Egs. food, nutrition, education, shelter/institutional care, health/PMTCT ) Delivery of services to young children integrated across sectors ( encompass survival, protection and development; Egs. food, nutrition, education, shelter/institutional care, health/PMTCT ) Education and Support for Families ( Minimum counseling, minimum package of support thru NGOs, micro-financing, income generation etc ) Education and Support for Families ( Minimum counseling, minimum package of support thru NGOs, micro-financing, income generation etc ) Training of care givers – area of great need ( see Social Welfare indicators; also less than 20% of pre-school teachers are trained ) Training of care givers – area of great need ( see Social Welfare indicators; also less than 20% of pre-school teachers are trained )

Intervention areas -2 Sensitization and Mobilization initiatives at national, district and community levels using GARFunds and other resources Sensitization and Mobilization initiatives at national, district and community levels using GARFunds and other resources - Key actors - CBOs, NGOs, FBOs and traditional leaders, MDAs etc - Targeted media events (eg. Cartoon animation, drama etc)

Challenges Support to families since they provide a bulk of care and support activities Support to families since they provide a bulk of care and support activities Special information needs and sensitivity because of stigma Special information needs and sensitivity because of stigma Many barriers – infrastructure needs, scaling up successful interventions, eg Queen Mothers Many barriers – infrastructure needs, scaling up successful interventions, eg Queen Mothers At local level, ADVOCACY for ownership At local level, ADVOCACY for ownership Coordination of programmes Coordination of programmes Research to fill data gaps for ECD HIV/AIDS programming Research to fill data gaps for ECD HIV/AIDS programming

Opportunities Favourable policy environment ( Draft policies on ECCD, OVC, National HIV/AIDS etc ) Favourable policy environment ( Draft policies on ECCD, OVC, National HIV/AIDS etc ) Expansion in Pre-school Services Expansion in Pre-school Services Commitment of GoG, Traditional leaders Commitment of GoG, Traditional leaders GoG/UNICEF Indicators of Early Childhood Learning Standards GoG/UNICEF Indicators of Early Childhood Learning Standards Curriculum development for ECD that incorporates HIV/AIDS issues Curriculum development for ECD that incorporates HIV/AIDS issues National Programme of Action for Children National Programme of Action for Children Several manual development initiatives including HIV/AIDS curriculum for Teacher Education Several manual development initiatives including HIV/AIDS curriculum for Teacher Education

Conclusion GoG commitment to process of addressing ECD and OVC made manifest by composition of team: - MOWAC and its agency GNCC - MMDE and its agency, Dept of Social Welfare - MoEYS and its agency, GES - GAC - GHS - other Partners (UNICEF, World Bank, POLICY Project, ECD Consultant) GoG commitment to process of addressing ECD and OVC made manifest by composition of team: - MOWAC and its agency GNCC - MMDE and its agency, Dept of Social Welfare - MoEYS and its agency, GES - GAC - GHS - other Partners (UNICEF, World Bank, POLICY Project, ECD Consultant) Team will be expected to draw up and follow through on Actions to be identified Team will be expected to draw up and follow through on Actions to be identified