Twenty-six adolescents suffer new HIV infections every hour in Africa, a study conducted by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) has revealed.
Released by UNICEF at a conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, head of UNICEF’s global HIV/AIDS programmes Craig McClure said: “It is critical that young people, who are HIV-positive have access to treatment, care and support. At the same time, those who are HIV-negative must have access to the knowledge and means to help them to stay that way.”
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According to the agency, AIDS is the top cause of death among adolescents between the ages of 15-19 in Africa and the second leading cause of death among adolescents globally.
In sub-Saharan Africa, girls are vastly more affected, accounting for 7 in 10 new infections among 15-19 year olds.
“Among HIV-affected populations, adolescents are the only group for which the mortality figures are not decreasing” according to UNICEF.
UNICEF said the new data shows that most adolescents who die of AIDS-related illnesses acquired HIV when they were infants, 10 to 15 years ago, when fewer pregnant women and mothers living with HIV received antiretroviral medicines to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child.
“These children have survived into their teenage years, sometimes without knowing their HIV status,” UNICEF said.
