- Sputnik International
Africa
Get the latest Africa news from Sputnik: breaking news, photos, videos, analysis, and features.

AIDS Becomes Second Leading Cause for Adolescent Deaths Globally - UNICEF

© Flickr / Brian SnelsonWE CARE - DO YOU?
WE CARE - DO YOU? - Sputnik International
Subscribe
Youth deaths from the HIV virus have tripled since 2000 and represent the second leading cause of death for minors world-wide, according to statistics released by the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Friday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — UNICEF explained that many of the adolescents contracted the disease as infants about 15 years ago, when HIV-positive women had less access to treatment to prevent the disease from spreading.

Carrying an image of Turing Pharmaceuticals CEO Martin Shkreli in a makeshift cat litter pan, AIDS activists and others are asked to leave the lobby of 1177 6th Ave. in New York, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, during a protest highlighting pharmaceutical drug pricing. - Sputnik International
Competitor Offers $1 AIDS Drug After Pharma Company’s 5000% Price Hike

"AIDS is the number one cause of death among adolescents in Africa and the second leading cause of death among adolescents globally," UNICEF said. "Among HIV-affected populations, adolescents are the only group for which the mortality figures are not decreasing."

Since 2000, however, about 1.3 million new HIV infections among children have been prevented due to better mother-to-child prevention methods.

AIDS Ribbon - Sputnik International
Obama Announces US Initiatives for First 'AIDS-Free Generation'

A critical element in stopping the spread of the disease is to enable HIV-positive youths access to treatment, care and support, UNICEF’s global HIV/AIDS programs head Craig McClure said.

"At the same time, those who are HIV-negative must have access to the knowledge and means to help them to stay that way," McClure noted.

At present, less than half of all children under the age of two have been tested for HIV, and out of the 2.6 million HIV-positive children under the age of 15 only one in three are receiving treatment, according to UNICEF.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала