The AIDS pandemic in Africa has made visible a sector of the population which up to now has remained unappreciated in the fi eld of international cooperation: The 'grand-mothers'. With the deaths
of their grown-up children, they became to occupy a key role in the households. Not only do they
care for their grand-children, but they are also taking over labors which are traditionally under the domain of men. As a matter of fact, 'grand-mothers' economic role has indeed been much more relevant than commonly assumed, as one can observe in areas that are less affected by AIDS. The 'grand-mothers' are caretakers and 'housewives' in their classical sense.But increasingly, they are also providers of commodities and food for the family, especially in situations of social crisis and impoverishment. Furthermore, as bor,they nourish their sons, daughters and husbands,who are, in turn, employed in low-wage jobs – a contribution which presumably reverts into the macro-economy of their countries. However, the activation of their roles is hindered by their life conditions which push them and their households into spirals of vulnerability. Illness with its biological and social consequences is among the factors which aggravate the situation of the 'African grand-mothers'. When they become ill, or are not able to work because of fevers or other sufferings, the entire household is affected.Paradoxically, however, the 'grand-mothers' are not targeted in classical health programs. Since they are too old for programs focused on mothers and too young for the newer programs focused on elderly people, they are neither considered as a 'risk group'nor as 'vulnerable population'. Hence they are usually excluded from health programs, both from preventive measures such as receiving subsidized mosquito nets to protect from malaria and from exemptions of treatment cost. Yet considering their social and economic role in the community, it would certainly be necessary to establish specifi c programs targeted at 'grand-mothers', not in terms of 'help for the weak'but with the aim to break the disease-poverty circle.
La pandemia del SIDA en Ãfrica ha dado visibilidad a un sector de la población que hasta ahora ha pasado desapercibido en el ámbito de la cooperación internacional: Las 'abuelas'. Con la muerte de sus hijos han pasado a ocupar un papel clave en las unidades domésticas, no solo cuidando a sus nietos, sino ocupando espacios laborales tradicionalmente masculinos. Pero las 'abuelas' han tenido ya antes un rol económico más relevante de lo que comúnmente se cree, como lo tienen en la actualidad en lugares menos castigados por el SIDA. Las 'abuelas' son cuidadoras y 'amas de casa', en su sentido clásico, pero cada vez más son proveedoras de bienes y alimentos para la familia, sobre todo en situaciones de crisis social y empobrecimiento. Además,como argumenta Meillassoux, con su trabajo en los campos se alimentan hijos, hijas y maridos empleados con salarios bajos en la industria y otras áreas productivas, lo que presumiblemente revierte Meillassoux argues, as a result of their agricultural labor,they nourish their sons, daughters and husbands,who are, in turn, employed in low-wage jobs – a
contribution which presumably reverts into the macro-economy of their countries. However, the ctivation
of their roles is hindered by their life conditions which push them and their households into spirals
of vulnerability. Illness with its biological and social consequences is among the factors which aggravate the situation of the 'African grand-mothers'. When they become ill, or are not able to work because of fevers or other sufferings, the entire household is affected.Paradoxically, however, the 'grand-mothers' are not targeted in classical health programs. Since they are too old for programs focused on mothers and too young for the newer programs focused on elderly people, they are neither considered as a 'risk group'nor as 'vulnerable population'. Hence they are usually excluded from health programs, both from preventive measures such as receiving subsidized mosquito nets to protect from malaria and from exemptions of treatment cost. Yet considering their social and economic
role in the community, it would certainly be necessary to establish specifi c programs targeted at
'grand-mothers', not in terms of 'help for the weak'en las cifras macroeconómicas de sus paÃses. Sin
embargo, el desempeño de sus roles se ve difi cultado por unas condiciones de existencia que las empujan, a ellas y a sus unidades domésticas, hacia espirales de vulnerabilidad. Entre los factores que
contribuyen a agravar la situación de las 'abuelas africanas' está la enfermedad y sus consecuencias,
biológicas y sociales. Cuando ellas sufren, o no pueden trabajar a causa de la fi ebre u otras dolencias,toda la unidad doméstica se resiente. Pero paradójicamente son demasiado viejas para los programas de salud convencionales, y demasiado jóvenes para los nuevos enfoques en ancianidad; no son consideradas 'grupo de riesgo' ni 'población vulnerable'.Por esta razón quedan habitualmente excluidas de los programas de salud, tanto de los que promueven medidas preventivas, por ejemplo redes mosquiteras contra la malaria, como de los que eximen del pago por tratamiento. Pero visto su papel social y económico en las comunidades, serÃa necesario establecer programas especÃfi cos destinados a ellas,no en términos de 'ayuda a los débiles', sino con el objetivo de romper el cÃrculo enfermedad-pobreza.
