AIDS: Over 300 Children Die Everyday from AIDS-related Causes

Over 300 children and adolescents died every day in 2018 from AIDS-related causes, i.e., 13 deaths every hour, according to a global snapshot on children, HIV and AIDS released by the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

In 2018, around 320 children and adolescents died every day from AIDS-related causes, according to a global snapshot on children, HIV and AIDS released by the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

Low access to //antiretroviral treatment, in addition to limited prevention efforts, is a leading cause for these deaths, with only 54 percent of children aged 0-14 living with HIV in 2018 - or 7,90,000 children - receiving lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, the Xinhua news agency reported.

About AIDS - Health Education
Encyclopedia section of medindia gives general info about AIDS information and health education.

‘Over 300 children and adolescents died every day in 2018 from AIDS-related causes, i.e., 13 deaths every hour, according to a global snapshot on children, HIV and AIDS released by the UN International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).’
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"The world is on the cusp of making great gains in the battle against HIV and AIDS, but we must not rest on the laurels of progress made," said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, adding: "Neglecting testing and treatment initiatives for children and adolescents is a matter of life and death, and for them, we must choose life."

Data shows deep regional disparities in access to treatment among children living with HIV.

Access is highest in South Asia, at 91 percent, followed by the Middle East and North Africa (73 per cent), Eastern and Southern Africa (61 per cent), East Asia and the Pacific (61 per cent), Latin America and the Caribbean (46 per cent) and West and Central Africa (28 per cent).

AIDS - Initial Theories and Disease Progression-Blood Test-Stages-FAQs
AIDS was first detected in early 1980s, among gays, Haitians and black Africans. HIV is a descendant of a Simian Immunodeficiency Virus.

Mothers' access to antiretroviral therapy to prevent the transmission of the virus to their babies has increased globally, reaching 82 per cent, up from 44 per cent less than 10 years ago, according to the release.

However, disparities between regions persist, with Eastern and Southern Africa offering the highest rates of coverage (92 per cent), followed by Latin America and the Caribbean (79 per cent), West and Central Africa (59 per cent), South Asia (56 per cent), East Asia and the Pacific (55 per cent) and the Middle East and North Africa (53 per cent).

AIDS and Pregnancy - Treatment - Caring HIV Babies
The Acquired immune deficiency syndrome is brought about by the deadly human immunodeficiency virus. In the USA alone an estimate of 120,000 - 160,000 women are HIV- infected.

"The cost of failing to test and treat every child at risk of HIV is one we measure in children's lives and futures - a cost that no society can afford. HIV initiatives need to be fully funded and equipped to preserve, protect and improve the quality of life for children, in the first and second decades," Fore said.

In 2018, around 1,60,000 children aged 0-9 were newly infected with HIV, bringing the total number of children in this age group living with HIV to 1.1 million.

AIDS Distribution Pattern
Epidemiologic studies indicate three broad yet distinct geographic patterns of transmission

Source-IANS