| From: |
Adeyemo Gabriel [ profile ] |
| Subject: |
Preventing new HIV infections among children is the focus of ameeting of African First Ladies
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| Sent: |
Feb 8th, 2011 - 14:41:31 |
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Source:* UNAIDS*
http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/presscentre/featurestories/2011/february/20110201oafla/
Fellow Advocates,
Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) was high on the
agenda at a General Assembly of the Organization of African First Ladies
Against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), held 31 January in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. "For
every dollar spent preventing HIV among children, we save thousands more in
treatment avoided," said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe, addressing
the gathering of African First Ladies, as well as representatives from civil
society and the United Nations. "We are making so much progress for mothers
and children, but gains are fragile."
In recent years, African countries -- together with national and
international partners -- have made great strides in reducing the rate of
new HIV infections among children. In 2009, an estimated 54% of pregnant
women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa received antiretroviral
medicines to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child, up from 15% in
2005.
Several countries are leading the way, including Botswana, Namibia, South
Africa and Swaziland, where coverage of antiretroviral drugs for PMTCT is
now higher than 80%. In the 10 countries of southern Africa, the number of
children under 15 who became newly infected with HIV fell from 190 000 in
2004 to 130 000 in 2009 -- a 32% reduction.
AIDS-related deaths among children in southern Africa have declined by 26%,
from an estimated 120 000 in 2004 to 90 000 in 2009. Despite progress, some
2.3 million children in sub-Saharan African are living with HIV. In many
countries across the continent, stigma and discrimination prevent
HIV-positive pregnant women from accessing the services they need.
Please click on the link above to read full article, it's sure educating and
interesting.
--
Many Thanks
Yours' in Prevention Science
Adeyemo Damilare Gabriel
Moderator: Students' for Microbicides (S4M), Nigeria
Regional Focal Point - West Africa
Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AID
+234-80-6798-7317 | gabriel (at) gyca.org
www.gyca.org | www.tigweb.org
GYCA is a youth-led global network of more than 4,500 young leaders and
adult allies working on youth and HIV/AIDS in 150 countries world-wide.
GYCA's mission is to empower young leaders with the skills, knowledge,
resources and opportunities they need to scale up HIV/AIDS interventions
amongst their peers.
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