The concept of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) does not adhere to a universal definition and varies across countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The following definitions of a child, an orphan and of vulnerability have been adopted:The childDefined by as “every human being below the age of eighteen years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier." The orphan The official definition of an orphan is a child aged zero to 17 years whose mother, father, or both have