The Issues

HIV and AIDS

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
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

Almost every minute of every day, another two young people are infected with HIV. Every two minutes, a child dies of AIDS. This is wrong.

HIV and AIDS are having a devastating impact upon the world’s children, depriving them of parental care and protection. In 2008, there were an estimated 17.5 million children worldwide who had lost one or both parents to AIDS. These children are often forced to replace parents as head of the household, and take care of their younger brothers and sisters. They are often denied their right to an education, as they need to work to make enough money for their family.

Many children with HIV do not receive the life-saving medicine they need, and children affected by HIV and AIDS are often denied their right to a childhood.

But HIV is both preventable and treatable. Since October 2005, UNICEF’s global Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign (link http://www.tagd.org.uk/campaigns/uniteaids.aspx ) has called on communities, governments and businesses everywhere to put it right for children by focusing on four key areas:

Prevention of new infections
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)
Providing treatment for children
Protection, care and support

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Comments
  • omg i didn't know that i feelk so bad
  • pinulete 03/03/2010 13:17:59
  • Hi rugotunu. Did you know that only 33 per cent of pregnant women with HIV received the treatment needed to prevent their babies being born with the virus in 2007? Without treatment, half these babies will die before their second birthday. But UNICEF is working to drastically cut the number of children born with the HIV virus by giving them the right medication before they are even born. Visit our Unite Against Aids page under the Campaign menu to find out how you can do your bit to spread the word on HIV and our fundraising section (under the Do Something menu heading) to raise money for UNICEF's campaigns. Thanks. Hugh. Tagd web team.
  • sheesh 22/10/2009 12:42:12
  • not onli children need to be prtected but even women. WE NEED 2 HELP B4 IT IS TOO LATE!!!! Its not their fault that they are born with HIV. REACH OUT AND HELP!!! (I HAVE)
  • rugotunu 19/10/2009 17:57:57
  • What do you mean ripuguro? Anyway we've learnt about this and i hate how some people think you can get HIV and AIDS from just sitting next to somebody with it. Things like this really help to teach us about it.
  • limemidi 08/07/2009 17:27:04
  • Children need to be protected!
  • ripuguro 29/05/2009 17:41:42