But South Africans can anticipate the likely impact by looking at countries where the epidemic has been longer established-Uganda in East Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe in southern Africa. Millions of adults are dying young or in early middle age. They leave behind children grieving and struggling to survive without a parent's care. Many of those dying have surviving partners who are themselves infected and in need of care. But institutions are not the answer either, not to a problem of this scale.
Solutions have to be found in the community.
In Zimbabwe, people are rising to the challenge. Many village heads have designated land to be cultivated by all villagers to feed orphans and families of those suffering from debilitating illness, usually AIDS-related. In some areas, church groups have begun orphan-visiting programmes. Because these programmes work from within the community they are affordable, costing an average of just 68 US cents per child per month-a small price to pay for a service that will help keep orphans woven into the fabric of society. Fostering initiatives have also begun on commercial farms.