In 2021, 160,000 children will be infected with HIV

…every five minutes a child dies of AIDS-related causes

According to the World Health Organization, 160,000 children will have contracted the Human Immunodeficiency Virus by 2021.

The WHO also said that a child dies every five minutes worldwide from AIDS-related causes.

The global health body noted in a press statement made available to our correspondent that ministers and representatives of twelve African countries have committed and outlined their plans to end AIDS in children by 2030.

“Currently, a child dies of AIDS-related causes every five minutes around the world.

“Only half (52 percent) of children living with HIV are on life-saving treatment, far behind three-quarters (76 percent) of adults who are receiving antiretrovirals.

“In 2021, 160,000 children will contract new HIV.

“Children accounted for 15 percent of all AIDS-related deaths, despite the fact that only four percent of the total number of people living with HIV are children,” the statement read in part.

The UN body said twelve countries with a high burden of HIV — Nigeria, Angola, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe — have joined. the alliance to ensure that the 2030 target is met.

WHO director-general Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said the organization is determined not to leave any children in need of HIV treatment.

Dr. Ghebreyesus said: “More than 40 years since AIDS first emerged, we have come a long way in preventing infections in children and increasing access to treatment, but progress has stalled.

“The Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children is a much-needed initiative to revive progress. WHO is committed to supporting countries with technical leadership and policy implementation to realize our shared vision of ending AIDS in children by 2030.”

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima also said: “An inequality that breaks my heart is that against children living with HIV, and leaders today set out their commitment to the determined action needed to rectify it. As the leaders noted, with the knowledge we have today, no baby needs to be born with HIV or become infected while breastfeeding, and no child living with HIV needs to go without treatment. The leaders were clear: they will close the treatment gap for children to save children’s lives.”

The Executive Director of The Global Fund, Peter Sands, said: “By 2023, no child should be born with HIV and no child should die from an AIDS-related disease.

“Let’s take this opportunity to work together to ensure that the action plans approved today are translated into concrete steps and widely implemented.

“Together, led by communities most affected by HIV, we know we can achieve remarkable results.”