The forgotten people of the HIV/AIDS epidemic are the elderly, says Red Cross Red Crescent
Geneva/Madrid, 4 April 2002

As aid agencies and non-governmental organisations gather in Madrid for the opening of the World Assembly on Ageing (the first in twenty years), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies today said that the global HIV/AIDS pandemic was having a profound effect on the older generation worldwide.

"The HIV/AIDS pandemic is having a dramatic effect on the health of older persons - both for those who are infected and for those who are carers for infected family members. Older people have to compete for limited health resources at a time when many health services are already stretched to breaking point by the pandemic. In many ways they are the forgotten victims of this tragedy," said Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro, President of the International Federation.

Older people often find themselves placed in the desperate position of trying to meet the needs of numerous children in their care. These needs may include - shelter, food, clothing, school fees and books, school uniforms, health care and emotional and psychological support, and fighting to maintain material and property rights of the children.

In Africa alone, a conservative estimate puts at five million the number of grandparents who have taken on the role of parents to their own grandchildren. Grandparents often take on this role while also nursing their own adult children. The International Federation, through its network of volunteers, including many older people, working on home-based family care and community programmes, is providing psychological support for older caregivers. Older people must also be provided with information on how best to care for their sick and dying children.

"The older generation are taking on the burden of caring for children when their parents die. Many of these older people were already living in poor and difficult circumstances before they took over the care of the children," said Jennifer Inger, Federation social welfare expert.

This desperate situation is compounded by the stigma and subsequent isolation which is associated with those families affected by HIV/AIDS. "It is vital that governments and institutions recognize the important role of older people as an essential resource and a productive force," added Inger who is representing the Federation at today's opening of the NGO forum of the Assembly on Ageing. The Assembly formally opens on Monday, April 8.

Additional information, stories and pictures can be found on the special web page dedicated to the World Assembly on Ageing 2002.

A Video News Release is also being distributed.

For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact:

In Geneva: Head of Media Service, Denis McClean - Tel.: +41 22 730 4428/ +41 79 217 33 57

In Madrid: Eva Calvo - Tel.: + 41 79 217 33 72

The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.