Children Infected & Affected by HIV/ AIDS. Youth Advocate Program International nd St. NW, Suite 209 Washington DC 20016, USA

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1 Children Infected & Affected by HIV/ AIDS Youth Advocate Program International nd St. NW, Suite 209 Washington DC 20016, USA

2 HIV/AIDS What Do You Know? What is HIV? What is AIDS? How is the disease transmitted? In what part of the world is HIV/AIDS most prevalent? Who is vulnerable to contracting HIV/AIDS? "Helping kids understand about AIDS is the most important thing I do. Some kids like to pretend that it's not happening in the world. By letting them know what's really going on, I might save someone's life." Hydeia L. Broadbent AIDS patient and activist.

3 HIV/AIDS Terms to Know HIV: the Human Immunodeficiency Virus is a retrovirus that attacks the cells of the immune system. HIV is transmitted through an exchange of bodily fluids (eg. exposure to infected blood, during sexual activity with an infected individual, by sharing needles). It can also pass from an infected mother to her child. HIV is the virus that eventually causes AIDS. AIDS: an Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome diagnosis is made when symptoms that indicate the disease (primarily a decrease in the number of immune system cells in a person s bloodstream) are identified by a doctor in a HIVpositive person.

4 HIV/AIDS Terms to Know CRC: the Convention on the Rights of the Child is an international treaty that recognizes the human rights of the children, defined as persons up to the age of 18 years. It ensure the rights to survival, development, protection and participation of all children without discrimination. CSEC: [Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children] comprises sexual abuse by the adult and remuneration in cash or kind to the child or a third person or persons. The child is treated as a sexual object and as a commercial object. (World Conference Against CSEC)

5 HIV/AIDS Basic Facts Every minute five people around the world between the ages of 10 and 24 are infected with HIV. There are 2.5 million children under the age of 15 living with the disease worldwide. In Sub-Saharan Africa, the majority of new infections occurs among young people between the ages of 15 and 24. Of the 3 million who died of AIDS in 2003, 500,000 were children. The total number of children orphaned by AIDS 13.2 million as of 2001 is expected to more than double by Source: UNAIDS. < (April 29, 2004). Source: UNAIDS, AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2003, p.3. Source: UNICEF, Young People and HIV/AIDS: Opportunity in Crisis, p.6 [publication on-line] (February 17, 2004). Source: UNAIDS, AIDS Epidemic Update: December 2003, p.3. Source: UN Special Session on HIV/AIDS. Fact Sheet

6 HIV/AIDS Where are Children affected by HIV/AIDS? Source: UNAIDS/WHO

7 HIV/AIDS Why do children have HIV/AIDS? Most children under 15 who have HIV/AIDS are infected through their infected mothers that is, through mother child transmission. this occurs during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding after birth. Sexual activity (the main route of disease transmission) starts in adolescence for most people worldwide. Young people who are uninformed about HIV/AIDS transmission risk becoming infected. Poverty, lack of education, lack of medical resources, and the commercial sexual exploitation of children also help spread HIV/AIDS among children worldwide.

8 HIV/AIDS Which children are most affected? Adolescent girls and young women are at a disproportionately high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Girls are physiologically more vulnerable to infection. Gender-based inequities mean girls and women are more likely to be poor and powerless, hence are more vulnerable to sexual exploitation and HIV/AIDS infection. Violence against girls in the form of forced or coerced sex, or CSEC also increase their chances of becoming infected. Children who live on the streets. Children who inject drugs.

9 HIV/AIDS How are children affected? Children with HIV/AIDS have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to other illnesses. Children with HIV/AIDS may be stigmatized and/ or rejected from their families and communities. this discrimination fosters ignorance about HIV/AIDS and stigma against testing for, treating the disease. This in turn makes it difficult to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Children are orphaned when their parents die from HIV/AIDS.

10 HIV/AIDS help? What is being done to NGOs and governments are working together to educate the public about HIV/AIDS and to direct individuals to clinics that offer free HIV testing. Researchers continue their efforts to find better treatments to help those with AIDS and ultimately, a cure. however, new medicines are often too expensive for poor countries. intellectual property rights also block the production of more affordable, generic medicines. Some governments have increased funding and adopted legislation that help children with AIDS.

11 HIV/AIDS Recap and Discussion Care for us and accept us we are all human beings. We are normal. We have hands. We have feet. We can walk, we can talk, we have needs just live everyone else don t be afraid of us we are all the same! Nkosi Johnson 13 th International AIDS Conference How can HIV/AIDS be transmitted? How do children contract HIV? Who is most vulnerable? How can you prevent yourself from contracting HIV? How do you think people would react if you had HIV/AIDS? What are the stigmas attached to HIV/AIDS? What could organizations and governments do to help AIDS orphans?

12 HIV/AIDS What Can You Do? Educate yourself about HIV/AIDS. Contact local, state, and national politicians for support for HIV/AIDS. Write letters asking for their opinion on HIV/AIDS. Talk to your parents about HIV/AIDS. Educate the adults in your life! Advocate for HIV/AIDS awareness! Begin a social awareness/human rights club.

13 HIV/AIDS For More Information AIDS.org Center for Disease Control AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families UNAIDS UNICEF Youth Advocate Program International Population Services International