DATE=04/09/02

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-288490

TITLE=UNICEF/AIDS CONFERENCE

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: About 150 participants from 23 West and Central African countries

are holding a week-long meeting in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast to discuss the

growing problem of HIV/AIDS in the region. Lisa Schlein reports the

Geneva-based U-N Childrenšs Fund or UNICEF - wants governments in the region

to enact programs to help children orphaned by AIDS.

TEXT: This is the first time countries in West and Central Africa have held

a region-wide conference specifically dealing with the HIV/AIDS crisis.

Until now, most of the world's attention has focused on the South and

Eastern Africa Region, which contains many of the world's most infected

populations. UNICEF Spokeswoman, Wivina Belmonte, says the conference wants

to highlight what countries in West and Central Africa can do to keep the

disease from spreading as dramatically as it has among their southern

neighbors.

///BELMONTE ACT///

It is significant, but they want to contain it. Many people in southern Africa used to talk about the days when they would look at the explosion of HIV/AIDS in Uganda and say no, not here. It will never happen here. But, it did. And, West and Central Africa does not want to be caught out in the same position. So, that is why there is this focus.

///END ACT///

The conference also is focusing on children who have lost one or both

parents to AIDS. UNICEF statistics show worldwide, more than 10 million

children under age 15 have been orphaned by AIDS. The Agency expects this

figure to more than double by 2010. The disease has taken a particularly

terrible toll in Africa. For instance, UNICEF reports there are well over

one million AIDS orphans in Nigeria, more than 600-thousand in the Ivory

Coast and a similar number in Zimbabwe. Ms. Belmonte says in all cases,

this tragedy is growing. She says this can be seen in the increasing number

of child-led households in Africa.

///2ND BELMONTE ACT///

These are children who have to opt out of school, opt out of any kind of future opportunity because they have to take care of the children, their brothers and sisters who are left behind. They have no voice, very little in terms of income, no future in terms of

education because they are the first to opt out of school. And, one way

that UNICEF is trying to help them is to make sure that the little that they

might have is to have a home, that we make sure that they keep the home.

///END ACT///

Ms. Belmonte says one of UNICEF's key aims is to protect those children who

have so very little. She notes that the extended family remains the best

source of care for orphaned children. But says it needs to be strengthened

and secured. UNICEF is calling on governments to take a more assertive role

in leading the fight against AIDS and in providing the money needed to help

AIDS-infected orphans and to make sure they continue to attend school. (Signed)

NEB/LS/SAB