Around 530,000 children infected with HIV/AIDS in 2006: UNICEF

[Guest guest]

Around 530,000 children infected with HIV/AIDS in 2006: UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund ( UNICEF) said in Lagos on

Thursday that an estimated 530,000 children under 15 years old were

infected with HIV/AIDS in 2006, mainly through mother-to-child

transmission.

In its report on the state of children and HIV/AIDS, the UNICEF said

half of the infected infants would die below two years old without

treatment.

The report quoted UNICEF Executive Director Ann Veneman as urging the

governments to " urgently rally support and care for children

suffering from the pandemic. "

It noted that although there were signs of considerable progress in

the situation of children living with HIV/AIDS, much more still

needed to be done.

The report also noted particular momentum in the provision of

treatment to children living with HIV/AIDS. It said: " globally, only

one in 10 children needing antiretroviral treatment receives it,

while only four percent of children born to HIV-infected mothers

receive prophylactic treatment to prevent opportunistic infections

that can be fatal. "

http://english.people.com.cn/200701/19/eng20070119_342686.html hua