zimbabwe- AIDS orphans

Over one million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS in Zimbabwe. The majority of these children are ill themselves, suffering

from complications of tuberculosis, malnutrition and other maladies which usually signify the HIV virus.

Typically when one parent has died a son or daughter becomes the caretaker of the ill, surviving parent and assumes responsibility for younger siblings.

In some cases grandmothers take on a parenting role. However, if both parents are deceased and there is no extended family children become guardians and providers of child-headed families.

2004