The new cases of HIV infections among the children have witnessed a decline of about 40 percent between 2009 and 2013, a report by UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) showed on Friday.
According to the experts, this is an encouraging indication but the global goal of achieving a 90 percent reduction in the HIV cases remains a difficult task.
The UNICEF report showed an estimated 1.1 million new infections from the fatal virus among the children under 15 prevented between 2005 and 2013.
Experts hold several factors responsible for this progress. Some of these factors are creation of more awareness programs against HIV/AIDS, especially for HIV positive pregnant women, more and more services for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT).
Botswana, Ethiopia, Malawi, Zimbabwe are among eight other African countries to witness the maximum decline in the new cases of AIDS causing HIV.
The report also showed that only 67 percent of HIV positive pregnant women living in low and middle income nations received proper and most effective treatment in 2013. In the dearth of proper treatment, an estimated 190,000 children under 15 fell prey to HIV/AIDS-related reasons.
Expressing need to reach every child in order to achieve the global call, UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake said, “We must close the gap, and invest more in reaching every mother, every newborn, every child and every adolescent with HIV prevention and treatment programmes that can save and improve their lives.”
Dr. Alina Alonso, Director of the Florida Health Department in Palm Beach County, said getting proper treatment and regular screening can help tremendously in preventing HIV.
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