Ministers and representatives of 12 African countries made a pact to end AIDS in children by 2030. For the World Health Organization (WHO), this first ministerial meeting of the Global Alliance to Eliminate AIDS in Children, in Tanzania, marks a step forward in order to guarantee that children with HIV have access to antiretroviral treatment and that pregnant women with HIV have their children free of the virus. “We will work to drive progress over the next seven years to ensure that the 2030 target is met”, reinforced the WHO. Data from the entity reveal that, currently, all over the world, a child dies of AIDS-related causes every five minutes, while only half of children living with HIV use antiretroviral therapies. The percentage among adults is 76%. Also according to the WHO, in 2021, 160,000 new cases of HIV infection were registered in children, who account for 15% of all AIDS-related deaths in the world, despite representing only 4% of the total number of people living with HIV. HIV on the planet. Global Alliance “We need to commit to moving forward as a whole, collectively. All of us, within our capabilities, must have a role to play in ending AIDS in children. The Global Alliance is the right direction and we must not remain complacent. 2030 is on our doorstep,” said the country’s vice president, Philip Mpango. In addition to Tanzania, the other nations that signed the pact are Angola, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Pillars of action include: – early testing, plus optimal treatment and care for infants, children and adolescents; – reduction in the number of pregnant and lactating women living with HIV, to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of the virus; – prevention of new HIV infections among adolescents and pregnant and lactating women; – Debate on rights, gender equality and social and structural barriers that hinder access to services.
Agência Brasil
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