Early Childhood Development Action Network (ECDAN)’s Post

Newly published HIV estimates are a reminder of the progress made in ending AIDS as a public health threat but as well as the gaps that remain for children, adolescents, girls and pregnant women. Only 57 per cent of the 1.4 million children with HIV are receiving antiretroviral treatment, compared to 77 per cent of adults. Alarmingly, last year, 250 children age 0-14 died from AIDS-related causes every day. Adolescent girls face a critical challenge. We are far from the SDG target of a 90 per cent reduction in new HIV infections, achieving only a 48 per cent reduction since 2010. Each day, 571 adolescent girls and young women become newly infected with HIV. These figures highlight the urgent need for continued efforts and targeted interventions to close the treatment gap and protect our most vulnerable populations. https://lnkd.in/eV8H7vvM

Pictured: A support group session for discordant couples in Siaya County, where Catholic Medical Mission Board- Kenya (cmmb)'s HIV project is being implemented. Psychosocial support groups for discordant couples (DC) in the community enhance communication between the spouses, thus fostering cohesion in the families. As a result, HIV-positive partners are more likely to adhere to antiretroviral medication (ART), while negative spouses are more likely to use Prep. In high-HIV-burden Migori and Siaya counties, CMMB works towards Kenya's Vision 2030 by delivering comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, and care—specifically, by contributing to a 75 percent reduction in new HIV infections and a 25 percent reduction in AIDS-related mortality. To achieve these goals, the project uses a variety of interventions: capacity building for service providers, advocacy for duty bearers and gatekeepers, and support for institutional structures to promote knowledge of and response to HIV and SGBV #EbanK #healthierlivesworldwide  James Kisia

Every three minutes in sub-Saharan Africa, an adolescent girl or young woman aged 15–24 years is infected with HIV. In South Africa, the statistics are equally concerning – each week nearly 1,000 adolescent girls and young women in SA are infected with HIV.

Lets End STIGMA, IT Starts With YOU. As we commemorate UNAIDS 10 years of #zerodiscriminationday under the theme "to protect everyone's health, protect everyone's rights" Lets put an end to STIGMA, when people stigmatize you, it means depression, anxiety and trauma, it also means other people living with HIV will fear to disclose their HIV status, some will default their medications when they get into non-disclosure relationships and it results in new HIV infections, eroding our efforts to close the tap for new HIV infections. #ENDAIDS, It STARTS with YOU, END STIGMA. Resources: Heart and Soul Broadcasting Services Love Locked podcast show, WATCH NOW https://lnkd.in/dpyfTeTq A survery that was conducted by Zimbabwe National Network of People Living with HIV (ZNNP+) shows that young people living with HIV are at higher risk of experiencing stigma. https://lnkd.in/dAE5KJR9 The Global Network of People Living with HIV (GNP+) PLHIV Stigma Index Global Report https://lnkd.in/dr3FVEqW Zvandiri tools and materials https://lnkd.in/dRdyHTKJ Beyond Stigma https://lnkd.in/d39K6sJc United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) United Nations Youth Office International AIDS Society Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) Gilead Sciences ViiV Healthcare World Health Organization UNICEF Alfa Bothwell gwatidzo

A few highlights from #AIDS2024 today: ⭐  The Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children launched a new report today that finds progress is being made in reducing HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths among children in Global Alliance countries, but much more needs to be done: https://buff.ly/4bOHDWI ⭐  mothers2mothers Lesotho Country Lead Mpolokeng Mohloai participated in a fascinating discussion on the shared challenges and opportunities in addressing HIV/AIDS on the African continent and in Appalachia—a region in the Eastern United States—organised by the Community Education Group , HIV Vaccine Trials Network, and Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA). Both regions face significant barriers to health care access and also possess resilient communities and innovative approaches that have the potential to inform and inspire interventions on a global scale. One thing that came out loud and clear—community health workers have a critical role to play in both regions. Mpolokeng Mohloai shared that: "mothers2mothers has demonstrated the importance of professionalised and paid community health workers through our own work. We have achieved virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in part because mothers2mothers community health workers are living testimonies that HIV treatment works."

We did not get the chance to dedicate any space to progress made in paediatric HIV in our original Lancet article, but are grateful for Philippe Van de Perre and Thorkild Tylleskär for pointing this out and allowing us the opportunity to respond to their correspondence. I thanks Dr Mody and my colleagues for the chance to put together a brief response. While new infections among children have declined, advances in preventing mother-to-child transmission have stalled in the last decade. Issues of screening, treatment initiation, and adherence among children living with HIV are more complex than in adult populations. Check out our original Lancet Seminar article on HIV, published on World AIDS Day 2023: https://lnkd.in/gi9mb8EH Our reply: https://lnkd.in/gvtTGjQP

HIV/AIDS remains a health threat globally and is among the leading causes of death in Tanzania. Young people are at a high risk for HIV infection and generally have lower rates of being on lifesaving treatment and being virally suppressed relative to adults. Adolescent girls and young women bear a disproportionate burden of new HIV infections among young people, accounting for nearly two out of three new HIV infections among young people globally. Tanzania Health Promotion Support (THPS) ongoing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention /PEPFAR Funded 𝑨𝑭𝒀𝑨 𝑯𝑨𝑻𝑼𝑨 𝑷𝒓𝒐𝒋𝒆𝒄𝒕 aims to close equity gaps among priority populations, one of the goals is to support implementation of effective HIV awareness, prevention, and treatment strategies that are Youth Friendly. Young people are catalysts for change and innovation in the fight to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. #PamojaTunaboreshaAfya

Check out this compelling study by the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) & partners that sought to understand the social construction of ageing in a clinic-based population, to address the gaps in care for older individuals living with HIV in Zambia.  Using exploratory qualitative methods, the study found that ageing was multidimensional, perceived as an achievement in the HIV era on one hand, but also as a period of cognitive, physical, and economic decline on the other hand. Based on the findings, the study recommended that multifaceted interventions are required to combat age-related prejudice, intersectional stigma, and discriminatory practices, particularly for those living with HIV. Read more: https://bit.ly/44h9HQo

Every three minutes in sub-Saharan Africa, an adolescent girl or young woman aged 15–24 years is infected with HIV. In South Africa, the statistics are equally concerning – each week nearly 1,000 adolescent girls and young women in SA are infected with HIV.

Disparities in access to HIV testing and treatment, however, continue to undercut the overall impact of these accomplishments (Figure 0.7). Children aged 0–14 years living with HIV remain considerably less likely than adults to be diagnosed and receive antiretroviral therapy: about 43% [31–57%] of the global total of 1.4 million [1.1 million–1.7 million] children living with HIV were not receiving treatment in 2023. Children accounted for 12% of all AIDS-related deaths, even though they constitute only 3% of people living with HIV. More than one third (36%), or 370 000 [250 000–470 000], of older adolescents aged 15–19 years living with HIV were not receiving antiretroviral therapy in 2023. Source: UNAIDS