UNICEF report – “Women: At the heart of the HIV response for children”

21 Sep, 2018

UNICEF’s new report, Women: At the heart of the HIV response for children, highlights the sobering fact that, contrary to popular opinion, the AIDS crisis is far from over. Even as the disease beats a slow retreat due to the significant and commendable progress on many fronts in the last decade, it still strikes at people of all ages, including babies, young children and particularly adolescents. It continues to thrive among the marginalized and the powerless. Women and girls bear the brunt of the disease, both as the majority of those infected, and as those caring for others. The report contains 17 essays from women leaders in the fight against HIV, from activists living with HIV to prominent political and corporate figures.

Key facts:

  • Globally there are 3.0 million (2.0 – 4.2 million) children living with HIV
  • 180,000 (110,000 – 260,000) children 0-4 were newly infected with HIV in 2017; 47% of these infections were during breastfeeding
  • In 2017 250,000 (150,000 – 360,000) adolescents aged 15-19 became newly infected with HIV, 66% of them girls
  • 80% (61 – >95%) of HIV+ pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral medicines for prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in 2017
  • Only 51% (41 – 67%) of infants born to mothers living with HIV are tested in the first two months of life
  • Half, 52% (37 – 67%) of children living with HIV are on antiretroviral therapy (ART)
  • Only 41% of adolescent girls know where to get tested for HIV

Read more here.