An average of 29 adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 are infected with HIV every hour, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), has said.
Speaking at the International AIDS Conference in South Africa on Monday July 18, Executive Director of UNICEF, Anthony Lake, said AIDS is still the number two cause of death for those aged 10-19 globally and number one in Africa.
UNICEF noted that girls are particularly vulnerable, and make up about 65 per cent of new adolescent infections worldwide. The world body added that fear of testing kept many young people unaware of their status.
“The battle against AIDS will not be over until we redouble prevention and treatment efforts; until we reach those young lives still being denied the progress that millions before them have enjoyed; and until we end the stigma and fear that prevent so many young people from getting tested,” Mr Lake said.
Meanwhile, mother-to-child transmission at birth or during breastfeeding has dropped by 70 per cent. UNICEF has, therefore, called for efforts to fully eliminate the transmission of the virus from mother to child.
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