Sasha, 7, and Dima, 13 from the Russian Federation. Sasha's parents were both drug addicts and HIV positive. His father abandoned him, and his mother recently died of AIDS-related illness. They face one of the fastest growing HIV epidemics in the world.
UNICEF/ HQ04-0680/Giacomo Pirozzi
According to current estimates, some 17.5 million children have already been orphaned by HIV and AIDS. It is thought that young people aged 15 to 24 account for around 40% of new adult HIV infections.
HIV and AIDS is having a devastating impact upon the world’s children, depriving them of parental care and protection. Children are being forced to replace parents as head of the household and care for younger siblings. Children are missing out on education, as they are forced to work to support themselves or siblings. Millions of young people also face the risk of contracting HIV themselves and of not receiving treatment.
Regional perspectives
The area of the world which has been hardest hit by HIV and AIDS is sub-Saharan Africa. In 2008 the region was home to 67 per cent of all people living with HIV. The worst-affected children are here too: more than 91 per cent of new HIV infections among children in 2008 were in sub-Saharan Africa.
The rate of HIV increase is currently sharpest though in Eastern Europe and Central Asia - the only region it clearly remains on the rise - where injecting drug use is causing a rise in infections. In Asia and the Pacific, most new infections are due to the sale of sex.
In industrialised countries, the virus is spreading again in communities where, until recently, it seemed to be under control.
How UNICEF helps
UNICEF works closely with young people to prevent new infections and with parents to prevent mother-to-child transmissions. It also helps communities provide protection and support to children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS.
Progess has undoutedly been made. The number of health facilities for young people providing antiretroviral drugs (which fight HIV) rose by an impressive 82 per cent from 2007-2008.
But much more needs to be done. UNICEF is calling on the world to provide more money to stop the spread of HIV, and to help the millions of children affected by the virus. We need to make sure children and their families have access to the drugs and healthcare they need to avoid contracting HIV and to stay alive. HIV and AIDS is such an important issue for children that we have launched our first global campaign, Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS on this issue.
Take a look at these two videos produced by UNICEF.
Further issues