By: Alexious Mloza-Banda
Africa has more people aged under 20 than anywhere in the world. But fears are growing, as Africa’s young population is fast on a decline, losing more of its adolescents to Aids.
Speaking recently at a conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, The United Nations Children Fund [UNICEF], Head of HIV and Aids Division, Craig McClure said; children born with the virus were dying in their teens because there was not enough treatment aimed at adolescents. McClure said; ”Due to the lack of treatment designed for adolescents, children who were born with the virus die when they reach their teenage years. Moreover, only one-third of the 2.6 million children born with HIV, were treated”.
According to UNICEF, AIDS is the top cause of death among adolescents aged 15-19 in Africa, and the second leading cause of death among adolescents globally. In sub-Saharan Africa, the region with the highest prevalence, girls are vastly more affected, accounting for 7 in 10 new infections among 15-19 year old’s. The infection rate among teenagers aged 15 to 19 years old now shows 26 new cases per hour.
Seventy-percent of HIV-infected teenagers were female. McClure added that while females are physically more vulnerable to HIV, factors such as child marriage and illiteracy also affect the HIV teenage statistics. Data released by UNICEF’s Statistical Update on Children, Adolescents and AIDS, says; less than half of children under 2 months old are tested for HIV. Only 1 in 3 of the 2.6 million children under the age of 15 living with HIV is on treatment. In 2013, UNICEF projected that around 83 000 adolescents in Malawi were infected with HIV, however the figures have since dropped according to latest statistics.
In Malawi, on a positive note, the 2014 National HIV and AIDS estimates, released by the National Aids Commission, published in August 2015; says, National HIV and AIDS Response continues to register significant progress in reducing the rate of new HIV infections, rate of AIDS-related deaths and increase in number of clients initiated and retained on antiretroviral therapy (ART).
” The number of new HIV infections has continued to decrease from 89 000 in 2004, when the Government of Malawi introduced free antiretroviral therapy, to 42 000 in 2014. More than half of all new HIV infections occurred in women aged 15 years and above in 2014”, reads part of the statement. The size of the HIV population in Malawi has been stable for the last 10 years as a result of the concurrent decline in new infections and AIDS death rates .The Malawi National Aids Commission hailed the introduction of free antiretroviral therapy which has averted over 200 000 deaths, including about 37 000 in 2014. The statistics further revealed that HIV prevalence is steadily declining, from 14.7% in 2010, to around 10.0% in 2014. This also illustrates a success story, since a lot of people are retained on ART, hence not dying due to AIDS related illnesses.
An estimated 36.9 million people worldwide are HIV positive (including 2.6 million children). The vast majority of this number live in low and middle income countries. In Malawi and the rest of the World, organizations, faith-based groups, researchers and individuals are working tirelessly in helping those affected by HIV/Aids pandemic, through various awareness and sensitization campaigns and activities. One major global awareness campaign is the famous Red Ribbon campaign which has seen people from various cross-sections including politicians, musicians, Hollywood movie stars and famous TV personalities donning the red ribbon, to show concern as well letting their communities, know the dangers and plight of HIV/AIDS.
Globally, the concern about HIV/AIDS crisis is stressed through the commemoration of the World Aids Day which falls on December 1, every year. Events and activities are organized in various places worldwide in schools, public halls, headlined by various people such as those living with HIV/AIDS, orphaned by Aids, leading researchers and activists’ and all stakeholders who are in the forefront fighting AIDS. This year’s World Aids Day theme is ”Getting to zero”. A full detailed graphical report on Malawi’s HIV/Aids estimates can be downloaded on this link: http://www.aidsmalawi.org.mw/index.php/press-release
