Children neglected in battle against AIDS - UN

Children affected by HIV/AIDS are being neglected and not receiving the care and support they need, UN health experts said on Thursday.

By 2010, about 18 million children in sub-Saharan Africa will be orphaned by the illness but less than 10 percent who have already lost a parent are being helped.

Although public health experts are pushing for universal access to life-saving drugs for all who need them, an estimated 4 million children with HIV/AIDS do not have access to treatment.
"Twenty five years into the epidemic, considerable progress has been made in mobilising the world against AIDS," said Dr Peter Piot, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).

"But when it comes to accessing HIV prevention and treatment services, children and young people continue to be left behind," he added, ahead of the start a two-day forum on HIV/AIDS.

The Global Partners Forum is hosted by the United Nations children’s agency UNICEF and Britain’s Department of International Development.

It is working to improve access to treatment, education and support for the millions of children whose lives have been blighted by HIV/AIDS.

"This is a crucial time in our global efforts to tackle HIV and AIDS and a time to turn commitments into action," said International Development Minister Gareth Thomas.

"We must ensure that the needs of children are central to this and ensure that communities can fulfil their potential," he added in a statement.

Representatives from 50 countries and 90 international organisations are attending the meeting in London. The forum will also push for changes in laws and policies concerning the protection of vulnerable children and seek ways to improve education and reduce the stigma of children affected by AIDS.

More than 40 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, according to the latest figures from UNAIDS, which is leading the global battle against the illness. In 2005 more than 3 million people died and 5 million people were infected.