A thousand children die daily - new report

1/12/ 2010: UNICEF has released its latest report on children and HIV/AIDS to mark international AIDS today. (Dec 1).

The report, called ‘Children and Aids’, brings together in one place data illustrating the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on children and young people worldwide. 

 It reveals how far the world has come in addressing the epidemic, as well as how much more needs to be done.

 The 2010 stocktaking report is jointly produced by UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as well as the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which combines the efforts and resources.

 The report says that:

 * More than 1000 babies are born with HIV every day – mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, but also in Pacific countries including Papua New Guinea. While many more people are being treated than previously -  coverage in low- and middle-income countries still remains unacceptably low at 6 per cent.

 * Unless diagnosed and treated - About half of children who contract HIV will die by their first birthday, many more by their second birthday.

 * The virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV will require access to more effective Antiretroviral (ARVs) regimens for everyone. Barriers to treatment can be economical, social and cultural.

 * UNICEF’s new ‘mother-baby pack’ will make it easier to provide prevention services to mothers who are not easy to reach.  This contains antiretroviral and antibiotics for women and the antibiotics for mothers and infants. The pack is intended for use in communities where delivery is frequently at home or outside of health facilities.

 * There are new guidelines and better methods to diagnose children with HIV, and more opportunities to provide them with life-saving treatment, but lives are lost because these are not used as widely as they should be.

Only 28 per cent of the 1.27 million children currently estimated to be in need receive antiretroviral treatment (ART). Treatment coverage among adults is higher, at 37 per cent.

 * While the number of new HIV infections are falling or stabilising in many parts of the world, nowhere near enough people know enough about basic protection and treatment.

 * In 2001, 5.7 million young people aged 15–24 were estimated to be living with HIV. At the end of 2009, that number dropped to 5 million. This decline is linked to safer behaviours and practices. If more people knew how to protect themselves, more lives could be saved.

 * Addressing the needs of marginalised families affected by HIV will contribute to more equitable health and development outcomes.

 Commenting on the report, executive director Dennis McKinlay said the goal was to eliminate parent to child transmission of HIV.

 “While the number of new HIV infections are falling or stabilising in many parts of the world, knowledge about HIV and how to protect yourself remains too low.”

 “But the good news is – most of these deaths – tens of thousands every year - are preventable.”

 “Another problem is that there are not enough treatment centres in out of the way places.  This new mother-baby pack should alleviate that problem – with fairly minimal instruction, HIV positive women can treat both themselves and their children. One pack will last them for the period from late pregnancy till early on during breastfeeding,” he said.

to download a copy of the report

to purchase a mother-baby pack as an 'inspired gift'