Unicef: New HIV infections decline

[Guest guest]

Unicef: New HIV infections decline

Published on April 4, 2008, 12:00 am

By Anyangu

The number of new HIV infections in children in Eastern Africa has

decreased.

This decrease is credited to the prevention of mother to child

transmission (PMTCT) with the countries recording a rise in the

number of pregnant mothers accessing anti-retroviral treatment.

Unicef launched the second stocktaking report on children and Aids in

which Kenya and other Eastern African countries scored highly in

terms of progress in paediatric HIV.

" In Eastern and Southern Africa, the number of HIV-positive pregnant

women receiving anti-retroviral treatment increased from 11 per cent

in 2004 to 31 per cent in 2006, " the report says.

The number of HIV-positive children receiving treatment in low and

middle-income countries also went up from 75,000 in 2005 to 127,300

in 2006.

The report further indicates HIV prevalence among pregnant women aged

between 15 and 24 attending antenatal clinics had declined since 2001

in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Dr Mildred Mudany, a researcher and technical adviser on paediatric

HIV at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said the level

of PMTCT in Kenya had increased.

Mudany said with increasing levels of PMTCT, HIV infection in

children was expected to reduce.

" There are now more than 2,000 PMTCT sites in Kenya offering services

that lead to reduction in the number of children born with HIV

infection, and linking infected mothers and their family members to

care and treatment, " she said.

Mudany said the prevalence of HIV in the general population had

gradually reduced from 9 per cent in the late 1990s to the current

5.7 per cent.

Mudany added that despite concrete figures a similar reduction had

been observed in HIV in children.

Mudany was optimistic that with the treatment interventions, a

further reduction in infection rate was expected with a hope of

getting a HIV-free generation in the future.

Kenya also scored highly in efforts to protect, care and support

children affected by Aids. According to the report, the level of

enrolment in school of children orphaned by Aids was significantly

high in Kenya.

The Unicef report highlighted that unlike the past, children were no

longer invisible to governments, donors and international

organisations with regards to HIV/Aids.

The report, however, called for more research into HIV and children

to make useful data available in planning and mitigation efforts.

http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143984260 & cid=159

[Guest guest]

Unicef: New HIV infections decline

Published on April 4, 2008, 12:00 am

By Anyangu

The number of new HIV infections in children in Eastern Africa has

decreased.

This decrease is credited to the prevention of mother to child

transmission (PMTCT) with the countries recording a rise in the

number of pregnant mothers accessing anti-retroviral treatment.

Unicef launched the second stocktaking report on children and Aids in

which Kenya and other Eastern African countries scored highly in

terms of progress in paediatric HIV.

" In Eastern and Southern Africa, the number of HIV-positive pregnant

women receiving anti-retroviral treatment increased from 11 per cent

in 2004 to 31 per cent in 2006, " the report says.

The number of HIV-positive children receiving treatment in low and

middle-income countries also went up from 75,000 in 2005 to 127,300

in 2006.

The report further indicates HIV prevalence among pregnant women aged

between 15 and 24 attending antenatal clinics had declined since 2001

in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Dr Mildred Mudany, a researcher and technical adviser on paediatric

HIV at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention said the level

of PMTCT in Kenya had increased.

Mudany said with increasing levels of PMTCT, HIV infection in

children was expected to reduce.

" There are now more than 2,000 PMTCT sites in Kenya offering services

that lead to reduction in the number of children born with HIV

infection, and linking infected mothers and their family members to

care and treatment, " she said.

Mudany said the prevalence of HIV in the general population had

gradually reduced from 9 per cent in the late 1990s to the current

5.7 per cent.

Mudany added that despite concrete figures a similar reduction had

been observed in HIV in children.

Mudany was optimistic that with the treatment interventions, a

further reduction in infection rate was expected with a hope of

getting a HIV-free generation in the future.

Kenya also scored highly in efforts to protect, care and support

children affected by Aids. According to the report, the level of

enrolment in school of children orphaned by Aids was significantly

high in Kenya.

The Unicef report highlighted that unlike the past, children were no

longer invisible to governments, donors and international

organisations with regards to HIV/Aids.

The report, however, called for more research into HIV and children

to make useful data available in planning and mitigation efforts.

http://www.eastandard.net/news/?id=1143984260 & cid=159