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| © Lois Craig |
HIV/AIDS is having a staggering impact on children. UNAIDS estimates that there are over 2.1 million children under the age of 15 living with HIV/AIDS, the majority of whom were infected by parent-to-child transmission of the virus. In 2008 alone, 430,000 children were newly infected with HIV, 91% of them in sub-Saharan Africa. Still, less than half of HIV-positive, pregnant women worldwide receive treatment to prevent transmission of the virus to their child, and only 38% of children in low- and middle-income countries that are in need of treatment receive it. All told, over 280,000 children die of AIDS each year, and in some countries the epidemic accounts for as many as half of all deaths among children under five. More than 14 million children in sub-Saharan Africa have been orphaned by the epidemic, and millions more are vulnerable because they live in households and communities affected by HIV/AIDS. Orphans and vulnerable children are at an increased risk of HIV infection, are more likely to be malnourished and denied an education, and are less likely to receive the mental and emotional support they need.
Comprehensive Prevention of Parent-to-Child Transmission (PPTCT+)
The first step in slowing the pediatric HIV/AIDS epidemic is to take a comprehensive approach to the prevention of HIV transmission from parent to child. This includes preventing primary HIV infection in women of childbearing age; preventing unintended pregnancies in HIV-positive women; preventing HIV transmission from pregnant, HIV-positive women to their children; and providing appropriate treatment, care, and support to HIV-positive mothers and their children and families. Governments, multilateral agencies, service delivery organizations, and pharmaceutical companies must do more to increase coverage of PPTCT+ services from 45% to 80% globally.
Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) and Treatment
In order to improve the survival rates and health outcomes for HIV-positive children, expanded access to early infant diagnosis (EID) and earlier and improved pediatric treatment is desperately needed. EID guidelines must be developed and implemented in order to ensure testing of children within two months of birth and immediate initiation of treatment after a positive diagnosis. Effective policies and monitoring mechanisms must also be put in place to improve the turn-around time for EID results.
Integrated Care for Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC)
Orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) need comprehensive care and support. This includes access to education, health care, shelter, food and nutrition, and psychosocial support. OVC also need special protection against abuse, violence, exploitation, discrimination, trafficking, and loss of inheritance. The most effective policies and programs related to OVC focus on supporting children by strengthening families and community-based care. In contrast to many current policies and programs that target individual children, the Joint Learning Initiative on
