'Care needed' for Aids children

Fatima Dinis cares for her grandson Aliciro, who is often unwell

Millions of children whose mothers live with HIV/Aids are not receiving enough long-term care and support, says a new UK charity report.

Up to nine million children in Africa have lost their mothers to HIV/Aids, Save the Children found.

The charity called for new efforts to improve care and support for children who lose one or both parents.

Many children are compelled to care for their sick mothers, the charity said, missing school to earn money instead.

Up to 90% of 19 million women living with HIV/Aids around the world are mothers, it said.

In the countries worst hit by Aids, children are often left to care for their younger siblings, or their grandparents take the role of the deceased parents.

Millions of dollars pledged to fight the effects of HIV/Aids around the world, and especially in Africa, need to be distributed more efficiently and more quickly, Save the Children said.

Free healthcare

"The Aids pandemic robs millions of children of their childhoods as well as their mothers," said Jasmine Whitbread, head of Save the Children UK, which compiled the new report.

Pedrito (l) has looked after his younger brother for four years

"It's time for donors - in particular the G8 nations, the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and malaria, the World Bank and the European Commission - to come forward with the resources to support children whose childhoods are being lost to HIV and Aids."

Ms Whitbread told the BBC that Save the Children wanted to see 12% of UN spending on Aids put aside to help children in these circumstances.

The World Bank and other donors should support the provision of free basic health care to those affected, the charity said.

According to the Missing on Mother's Day report, international donors and those targeting aid and relief need to focus on long-term care before mothers die of the disease.

Governments around the world need to remove bottlenecks stopping the quick distribution of funds, ensuring instead that aid is given directly to poor families, it said.