Children

The issue of HIV/AIDS among children is not a new one, especially as the virus continues to blight the continent of Africa, and many other developing nations. Millions of children have been given a death sentence at birth, millions more are left to suffer their dark fate alone as orphans.

The number of mother to child transmissions has decreased significantly thanks to the use of antiretroviral drugs, which are given to the infected mother in labor and to her baby at birth. The use of antiretroviral drugs has saved countless lives, giving children a chance at hope. Sadly only an estimated 9% of pregnant women infected with the virus in low and middle income countries in 2005 received antiretroviral drugs, this is an increase from 3% in 2003. While progress is worthy of celebration, it is not the end for many, as despite progress many HIV/AIDS free infants only escape their fate for a short time. Many uninfected infants become infected through the breast feeding process, due to the contamination of the mother’s milk. While many campaigns have been been put into place to educate on the risks of infected mothers breast feeding, this issues continues to be of grave concern as almost half of infections among infants occur due to transmission during the breast feeding process. While the solution may seem simple, it is complex in areas where issues of poverty, lack of clean water and adequate nutrition over shadow the long term effects of the virus.

In a recent group of studies researchers have discovered a substantial reduction in the transmission of the virus to breast-fed infants who’s antiretroviral drug courses where extended for periods up to six months.

“Breast feeding has proved to be a major stumbling block in preventing further H.I.V. transmissions from mother to child…if independent analysis of the findings from the new studies hold up, as expected, they could serve as the basis of a new standard of care. The next series of studies will need to determine the optimal time for treating mothers and infants,” said Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NY Times: Longer Drug Regimen Found to Help Babies Avoid H.I.V.).

While the years have lead the international community to continual progress both scientifically and socially, it is clear by the staggering numbers of new HIV/AIDS cases each year that much still needs to be done. Politics and funding play a substantial role in many not receiving antiretroviral drugs, and other need medications, while culture and lack of adequate education have also heavily contributed to the spread of the disease, especially in more rural populations. If the findings of this study prove to have significant effects, then much needs to be done to secure both funding and education, to ensure that the antiretrovials are properly and adequately administered to all those in need.
UNICEF issued a report earlier this month, “Children and AIDS: A Stocktaking”, in which is showed some 530,000 children under 15 infected, mostly through mother to child transmission, in 2006 alone, almost half would die before the age of two.

“There is an urgent need to help children impacted by HIV/AIDS… Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS is focused on ensuring treatment for HIV-positive children, prevention of mother-to-child transmission and assisting children who have been orphaned by AIDS. We must build momentum to achieve positive results for children.” UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman said (UN reports progress in ending mother-infant HIV transmission but urges more action)

Please read my related articles on children and HIV/AIDS

This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at 1:43 am and is filed under Uncategorized, Blogroll, Foreign Policy Association, Great Decisions Blogs, Children, HIV/AIDS, Disease, Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.