Every minute, one child dies of an AIDS-related illness. Another child and four young people aged 15-24 become infected with HIV.
Children are the missing faces of AIDS – their voices haven't been heard.
Already 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS, however, less than 10% of children receive public support or services even though they lack of parental care and financial support. In sub-Saharan Africa , where the impact is greatest, coping systems are stretched to the limit.
Although preventable, more and more children are contracted with AIDS and in 2004 over 600,000 children were born with the virus.
OUR GOALS
UNICEF, UNAIDS and other partners have launched a five-year global campaign, “Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS”, to assist children affected by AIDS. The global campaign aims to achieve in four key areas:
- Prevention of mother-to-child transmission : The vast majority of the half-million children under the age of 15 who die from AIDS-related illnesses every year contract HIV through mother-to-child transmission. The campaign aims by 2010 to provide 80 percent of women in need with access to services to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies. Currently less than 10 percent of women have access to these services.
- Pediatric treatment : Less than 5 percent of HIV-positive children in need of AIDS treatment are receiving it, and only 1 percent of children born to HIV-infected mothers have access to cotrimoxazole, a low-cost antibiotic that can nearly halve child deaths from AIDS by fighting off deadly infections. The campaign aims by 2010 to provide antiretroviral treatment and/or cotrimoxazole to 80 percent of children in need.
- Prevention : Adolescents and young people aged 15-24 account for roughly half of the new infections, but the vast majority of young people have no access to the information, skills and services needed to protect themselves from HIV. The campaign aims by 2010 to reduce the percentage of young people living with HIV by 25 percent which is in line with agreed international goals.
- Protection and support of children affected by AIDS : By 2010, it is estimated that there will be 18 million children who have lost at least one parent to AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa alone. They, especially girls, have to drop out of school and work for a living. The campaign aims by 2010 to reach 80 percent of children most in need of public support and services.
OUR TARGET
UNICEF believes that children must be at the forefront in our AIDS-fighting agenda. According to UNAIDS, $55 billion will be needed over the next three years, $22 billion in 2008 alone, to confront the AIDS pandemic. There is currently a funding gap of at least $18 billion from 2005-2007. Not only does AIDS funding need to increase dramatically, but a significant portion should be specifically targeted for children affected by the disease.
Therefore, we sincerely invite you to support UNICEF. Your contributions would definitely help speed up our “Unite for children. Unite against AIDS”.
With your help, we can:
- Prevent new infections among young people
- Prevent parent-to-child transmission of HIV
- Expand our protection and support to orphans, vulnerable children and families living with HIV/AIDS
- Children and young people in armed conflict
Join us today.
Sign up to show your support for the Unite for children, Unite against AIDS Campaign.
(Download donation form)
