Can Tanzania support the welfare needs of children
affected by HIV/AIDS? The short answer to this
question is, yes it can. Tanzania has a programme to
support the ‘most vulnerable children’. One deeper
question concerns the extent of support which can
and will be provided, including that from the
government budget. The programme which is costed
here would provide only modest assistance and while
it undoubtedly would help improve the outcomes for
very poor and vulnerable children, it is questionable
whether it covers enough children and gives them
enough assistance to be truly said to meet their
welfare or social protection needs. A second deeper
question is whether ‘children affected by HIV/AIDS’
warrant special support beyond that which would be
available for children who are most vulnerable for
whatever reason. Moreover, support specifically
targeted at children affected by AIDS runs the risk of
being stigmatising and discriminatory, even if it were
practically feasible.