The World Health Organization reports that the paediatric Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) coverage is still lagging in low- and middle-income countries with less than 1 in 4 children living with HIV having access to ART in 2013, compared to over 1 in 3 adults. (WHO HIV/AIDS Fact sheet N360° Updated November 2014)
1 December is World Aids Day and is dedicated to raising awareness of the Aids pandemic caused by the spread of the HIV infection. This year’s theme, Focus, Partner, Achieve: An AIDS-free generation aims to highlight the need to for governments and health officials, NGOs and individuals to address the prevention and treatment of AIDS.
In a recent news bulletin ahead of this World AIDS Day, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said that while an estimated 1.1 million HIV infections among children under 15 have been averted, disparity in access to treatment is hampering progress towards reaching a global goal of reducing new infections in children by 90 per cent.
Message
In her message for World AIDS Day Joan Marston, Chief Executive of ICPCN had this to say:
“We celebrate the successes in significantly bringing down infections in almost all age groups except adolescents and young adults. While we rejoice in all the lives saved, in 2013 there were still 240 000 new infections in children 0-14 and 250 00 in the age group 15-19. Two thirds of those infected are girls – the gender effect of HIV remains.
While many people say “We have ART – we don’t need palliative care”, the reality is that globally only 27% of children who need ART are on it. And those on ART often fail treatment, or have distressing symptoms; emotional and spiritual distress.
Research in India has shown that adding palliative care to treatment in a large HIV Clinic in Mumbai, has resulted in improved quality of life, better compliance to treatment and increased school attendance. We believe in ART AND Palliative Care with good nutrition, education and opportunities to play, to help our HIV infected children to live as well as possible and as long as possible.
It is time to CLOSE THE GAP that exists between the treatment and response to HIV and AIDS in adults and children.”
WHO response
WHO has identified six operational objectives for 2014–2015 to support countries most efficiently in moving towards the global HIV targets. These are to support:
- Strategic use of ARVs for HIV treatment and prevention
- Eliminating HIV in children and expanding access to paediatric treatment
- An improved health sector response to HIV among key populations
- Further innovation in HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care
- Strategic information for effective scale up
- Stronger links between HIV and related health outcomes
Read more about the discrepancy that exists between the response to AIDS in adults and children here.
Find more relevant information on these websites:
http://www.childrenandaids.org/
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