Introduction
In order to understand the HIV epidemic in Enrique’s native country, it critical to carry out intrinsic background research, establishing current dynamics, and designing the right remedy policy. Thus, this reflective treatise attempts to explicitly explore on the HIV epidemic on children in Enrique’s native country in prescribing relevant remedial polices for the government.
Besides, the paper offers researched based policies and relevant recommendations to reverse the series HIV epidemic threatening to permanently distract the growth and development of children.
In addition, this treatise tackles one of the initiatives that can be undertaken so as to bring change to the way of life of the children in this country. It will focus on HIV epidemic response and restoration policies aimed at protecting the affected children in Enrique’s native country.
HIV Epidemic in Enrique’s Native Country
Child development depends on several factors. These factors include love, caring, provision of basic needs, and security. Reflectively, HIV infection on a parent or guardian is likely to put children at a glaring risk of total behavioral, emotional, mental, and social development of child physical and psychological aspects of growth when the parent demises.
Enrique asserts, “You think that filling our bellies is the same thing as love,” (Sonia 2007, p. 89). More often, these children are exposed to physical violence and they lack protection from their parents which expose then to trauma.
In the book ‘Enrique’s Journey’ by Sonia, children are affected HIV infection at tender age are likely to become victims of sexual abuse and may be obliged to coping strategies such as fear, lack of confidence, and trauma that have negative effects on their growth as they lack the basic protection associated with parent care (Sonia, 2007).
Moreover, most of these children are vulnerable to depression, eating disorders, and even unending anxiety that is associated with “advanced opposition defiant disorder (ODD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)” (Fielding & Briss, 2006, p.977) which is associated with poor physical and psychological development of children.
A challenging task in community development is to make a community a better place to live and grow. Sonia asserts, “In the still air, the room turns hot, nearly suffocating; perspiration trickles down the migrants’ faces and soaks their shirts… spoons of stew touch lips before bottoms hit the seats”(Sonia 2007, p. 57).
Various community initiatives can be undertaken to make this society a better place to live for the children who are losing their parents to HIV related deaths. For instance, it can target an age group, household, area, and income among others. Children face a number of problems in this society as a result of HIV epidemic.
These problems are widespread ranging from drugs abuse, sex, alcoholism, theft, among others due to lack of emotional, financial, and psychological support. These children need to be help out of the problems arising from HIV related deaths pressure. This is because out of all the children impacted by death pressure, there are some who care about their well being like Enrique.
Therefore, they need assistance to get out of the poverty trap. This policy initiative aims to provide children in this country with a secure economic, social and environment. In addition, it helps them receive life guidance, financial assistance, realistic information, instructive tutoring, as well as participate in esteem building activities.
HIV response Policy
The mission of the policy initiatives is to enable children affected by HIV epidemic to improve their health, education, economic strength, and social vitality in the community. The policy initiative’s vision is healthy, vibrant, and sustainable community that offers meaningful opportunities for growth and success of these children affected by HIV related deaths (Fielding & Briss, 2006).
The initiative will be carried out within the entire Enrique’s native country. The state has a total population of 880,253 orphan children as a result of HIV related deaths. In this population, the estimated number of female children is 450, 889 while the male children are 42,364. Fielding and Briss (2006) defines development assets framework as “40 common sense, positive experiences and qualitative that help influences choices young people make and help them become caring, responsible, successful adults,” (Fielding & Briss, 2006, p. 974).
This framework has proven to be a successful tool for developing the children agenda in various countries. Some of the specific development assets are discussed below.
Children Empowerment
Empowerment entails increasing the aptitude of children in the community. This process helps them transform choices in to favorable outcomes. Community views children as vital resource for development.
In most instances, the communities grants children important roles in the society and empower them to execute those roles. Empowerment is an important tool for community development because it ensures utilization of idle human resources.
Commitment to Education
Learning is a key pillar for community development. Children should be actively engaged in learning and be motivated to do well in school. Children should be encouraged to go to school through offering sponsorship to the affected. Besides, their school reports need to be closely monitored by necessary agencies.
Bonding at school should be encouraged to motivate these children to attend school. Learning is an important tool because it educates the youth and prepares them to take up roles in the community (Fielding & Briss, 2006).
Community health Program
There are several community health programs that the government can offer this community to avert the HIV related deaths that make children orphans at a very tender age. The government should encourage the community to be conscious of their health, birth control, healthy eating and living habits, and adaptation of preventive health policies.
The can also offer major health services such as affordable hospital and clinical treatment, free TB and HIV centers, free post illness recovery support, and mobile clinics (Fielding & Briss, 2006). Most of the clinics within this community should be funded to offer free prenatal care besides affordable emergency treatments for those living with HIV.
The main health education services that should be offered in this community include family planning, health living and eating habits, and preventive care. Reflectively, the government should finance most of the healthcare services. These services can be subsidized and made affordable by the members this community.
Recommendations
Offering guidance on technical activities and initiating discussions with the aim of sharing with other children on challenges that face them in their families. These activities may include financing their education, offering coping strategies and rehabilitating children from substance abuse.
Besides, offering psychological support through initiating interesting topics that relaxes the mind of such a child. This can be monitored by the nongovernmental organizations that offer shelter and security to these minors.
The general agreement is that wellness programs have profound positive benefits to children who have lost their parents or guardians to HIV related deaths. Through these initiatives, children have the opportunity to live happier, healthier, longer and more productive lives. Being the most important asset towards economic development, this policy initiative is a dramatic shift from a culture of treatment to prevention.
References
Fielding, J., & Briss, P. (2006). Promoting Evidence-Based Public Health Policy: Can We Have Better Evidence And More Action? Health affairs, 25(4), 969 – 978.
Sonia, N. (2007). Enrique’s Journey. New York: Random House.