Some 2 million people die each year of AIDS, and around 33 million people around the world are infected with HIV. A shortage of healthcare providers, access to treatment facilities, high cost and often unavailability of ARVs , and a lack of adequate education, has lead the disease's spread to continue climb. Therefore the HIV/AIDS epidemic of today is worse than was predicted and it has led leaders around the world to join forces to work towards sustainable solutions to combat the growing spread of the disease.
Yesterday, the XVII International AIDS Conference, came to a close in Mexico City, the conference, dubbed AIDS 2008, ran from 3-8 August 2008. The conference also included a Youth Program, which aimed to ’empower young people, advocate for current and critical issues affecting youth worldwide, and further pinpoint current strategies for effective change’. The program also looks to target HIV-positive youth serving organizations. The conference also has its own site geared to children and young adults, please see AIDS 2008 Youth Site, for more information.
In the global fight against HIV/AIDS many children and young adults are being left out in the cold. Linda Richter, of South Africa's Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC), told delegates of AIDS 2008 that;
“Children have been short-changed in the response to AIDS. They are visible in the photo opportunities, but mostly invisible in the response.” (Children short-changed by AIDS response )
While mother -to-child HIV transmission can be significantly lowered with ARV, the number of children becoming infected with the virus remains too high, showing the urgent need for the global community to increase efforts to combat the disease through education and access to both adequate medical care and ARVs. According to UNAIDS, an estimated 370,000 children were infected in 2007, of which 270,000 died. Two million children under the age of 15 are now living with HIV, which is an eight-fold increase since 1990. While access to ARVs has increased, it is mainly adults who are seeing the benefits, as an only an estimated 10% of children are given the drugs, while an estimated 30% of adults are given access.
The question of whether or not children and young adults are receiving proper education to prevent the spread of the disease has been raised and the answer is, no. While sex education may have increased in many regions, it has failed to give the worlds youth a clear view of sexuality, sex and how to prevent the spread of HIV. Prabha Nagarja, of the Indian organization, Talking about Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues, runs an anonymous helpline for young people, told delegates of AIDS 2008 that calls from young people show an extreme failing in the country's sex education strategy.
“A new national curriculum on sex education tells young people what not to do sexually, without telling them why or explaining to them even the most basic things, such as how intercourse happens. Callers who ask whether activities like kissing, eating lunch or sucking nipples can cause HIV demonstrate that despite awareness of the existence of HIV, they have no idea how to protect themselves from it.” (Sex education failing young people)
Not only are children and young adults not receiving adequate education on the facts of HIV/AIDS and given what they need to prevent the diseases spread, the use of ARVs, care and education in pregnant mothers is also severely lacking in many areas.In many ways the fight to combat HIV/AIDS has gained considerable momentum and made great strides, despite efforts to find a cure for the disease. However while in many countries the fight against HIV/AIDS has been in the forefront for many years, other countries are literally falling behind.
The fight against HIV/AIDS is long from over, and the fact that the years have led the global community to create such awareness days as World AIDS Orphans Day and World AIDS DAY only solidifies the growing need of the international community to join together to fight and support those who are both at risk and suffer from the deadly disease. AIDS 2008, is a large step in the right direction, however the plight of children is significantly missed and must be increased if we are to see an end to HIV/AIDS.
Please also see my previous posts on HIV/AIDS.
Recent HIV/AIDS News:
“Terrifying” new HIV/AIDS laws could undermine AIDS fight
The female condom – the step-child in HIV prevention
MOZAMBIQUE: HIV-positive children still not getting treated
Breast is best, even for mothers with HIV
More education equals less teen pregnancy and HIV
US lifts travel ban on HIV-positive people
