Orphans & Vulnerable Children

Keep Children Healthy, Safe, Schooled and Stable.

Location

Enugu

Duration

5 Years

Status

Completed

Caritas

Tracking Our Collective Impact

We measure success not just in numbers, but in the livelihoods transformed and communities strengthened.

VSLA groups were established to improve beneficiaries’ economic stability.

Beneficiaries received support materials to enhance their income-generating activities (IGA).

Adolescents enrolled in vocational skill aquisition (vsa) & given startup kits

Positive beneficiaries (261 vulnerable children, 849 caregivers) were enrolled in the program.

Caregivers (441 male, 2,184 female), 849 (205 male, 644 female) tested positive.

Vulnerable children (3,591 male, 3,907 female), 261 (130 male, 131 female) tested positive.

Beneficiaries enrolled from 3 lga, in 31 communities.

Project Background

The OVC Project, implemented under the 4GATES Program, is a five-year CDC-funded initiative focused on strengthening HIV care, treatment, prevention, and support services in Nigeria. Following findings from the 2018 Nigeria AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS), the 4GATES Program launched the SURGE Project in Delta, Enugu, and Imo States, which were identified as high-priority “RED STATES.” The SURGE Project seeks to identify approximately 450 new HIV-positive cases weekly, ensure their timely linkage to appropriate treatment and care services, and support viral load suppression. A key component of the OVC Project is to ensure that all identified HIV-positive children and adolescents are enrolled in the OVC programme, enabling them to access comprehensive care, psychosocial support, protection services, and other interventions that improve their wellbeing and quality of life.

Project Objective

Promote the protection and wellbeing of children and adolescents by preventing and responding to all forms of violence, abuse, exploitation, and neglect while strengthening safe and supportive family and community environments.

Contribute to the attainment of the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets by identifying children and adolescents living with HIV and ensuring their linkage to care, treatment, and other essential support services.

Mitigate the social, economic, and emotional impact of HIV/AIDS on children, their families, and the communities that support them through comprehensive care, psychosocial support, and appropriate social protection interventions.

Activities

Comprehensive programs designed to drive long-term change.

Monitoring & Evaluation

Ongoing monitoring was conducted across all 31 communities to track enrollment figures, treatment linkage, viral load suppression rates, school re-enrollment, and livelihood outcomes, ensuring program targets and quality standards were consistently met.

Nutrition & Health Support

Over 300 children received deworming medicine and nutritional packs to improve their overall health and well-being.

Livelihood & Economic Strengthening

170+ beneficiaries received support materials to enhance income-generating activities (IGA).
60+ HIV-positive indigent beneficiaries received cash transfers, emergency food, and health support.
5+ Village Savings and Loan Association (VSLA) groups were established to improve economic stability.
1,000+ beneficiaries received seedlings and farming tools for home gardening initiatives.

Education & Vocational Skill Acquisition

Out-of-school children were traced and re-enrolled into formal education. Over 50 adolescents unwilling to return to school were enrolled in Vocational Skill Acquisition (VSA) programs and provided with startup kits to support their economic independence.

Capacity Building

Over 60 case managers were trained across key program areas to strengthen service delivery and data quality. Training covered M&E reporting tools, data collection and reporting, use of the mWater platform for community-level data management, HIV testing and counselling, and health education. This capacity building ensured case managers were well-equipped to deliver quality services and maintain accurate program records.

HIV Testing & Linkage to Care

Comprehensive HIV testing was conducted across all enrolled beneficiaries. Of the vulnerable children tested, 261 (130 male, 131 female) returned positive results, while 849 caregivers (205 male, 644 female) also tested positive. A total of 1,110+ positive beneficiaries were successfully enrolled into the OVC program and linked to HIV care and treatment services.