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HIV/AIDS: working towards better treatment for children

The efforts deployed to give children better access to treatment to combat HIV/AIDS are beginning to bear fruit. In 2009, more than 355,000 young sufferers were able to benefit from such treatment, compared with only 276,000 in 2008. Yet according to the information presented by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to the 18th International AIDS Conference in Vienna, many more lives could be saved. But these treatments need to be implemented much earlier … From the first few weeks after birth in fact.

Up to now, very few children under the age of 12 months have been able to receive treatment against HIV. In some countries, even the screening tests are not available. The WHO is therefore calling for better access to diagnosis for this particular group and for this to take place from as early as the first four to six weeks of life. Because, with no therapeutic monitoring, a third of infant HIV victims will die before their first birthday … and half before their second birthday. “Earlier diagnosis and faster treatment would give these children a better chance of survival”, explained Dr Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of the WHO’s HIV/AIDS Department in Geneva.

Each year, around 400,000 infants contract the virus through their mother. To prevent this risk, the WHO recommends that “all women living with HIV/AIDS should receive antiretroviral treatment in order to prevent transmission during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding. “Putting an end to mother-child transmission is entirely achievable and is a priority” declared Jimmy Kolker, head of UNICEF’s HIV/AIDS department. A hope that can be achieved “by 2015” according to Dr Paul de Lay, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS.

Source : WHO, 20 July 2010, 18th International AIDS Society Conference, Vienna

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