World AIDs Day: 1.1m HIV Positive Children in 2019 – UNICEF

BY ADEYEMI AKANJI, BAUCHI — Statistical data released by UNICEF for year 2019 have revealed about 150,000 new HIV infections of children aged between 0 and 9 years annually, bringing the total number in this age group to over 1.1 million infected children globally.

The report also indicated that In Nigeria, 22,000 children aged 0-14 years were newly infected with HIV, bringing the total number for the year to 150,000.

According to the reports made available to Journalists in Bauchi state, about 170,000 adolescents aged 10-19 were newly infected with HIV globally, bringing the total number to 1.7 million while in Nigeria, 10,000 adolescents aged 10-19 were newly infected with the total number rising to 110,000

Also, 130,000 adolescent girls were newly infected with HIV in 2019 globally, compared with 44,000 adolescent boys. In Nigeria, 7,100 adolescent girls were newly infected with HIV in 2019, compared with 3,100 adolescent boys.

Additionally, the report said the total number of AIDS-related deaths of children and adolescents was 110,000 globally; 79,000 aged 0-9 years and 34,000 aged 10-19.

In Nigeria, the total number of AIDS-related deaths of children and adolescents was 16,200; 13,000 aged 0-14 years and 3,200 aged 10-19.

Furthermore, the report stated that mothers’ access to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) to prevent the transmission of the virus to their babies increased globally to 85 per cent and early infant diagnosis reached 60 per cent, however in Nigeria, women’s access to ART is still at 43 per cent, while early infant diagnosis is at 27 per cent

Also, the number of pregnant women living with HIV globally is put at 1.3 million; while an estimated 82,000 children under the age of five were infected during pregnancy or birth and 68,000 infected during breastfeeding.

In Nigeria, the number of pregnant women living with HIV in need of ARV stood at 99,000; just as an estimated 21,938 children under the age of five infected during pregnancy, birth or during breastfeeding – this is about 25 per cent of the mother-to-child transmission taking place globally.

Generally, the report urged all governments to protect, sustain and accelerate progress in fighting childhood HIV by maintaining essential health services and strengthening their health systems.