120,000 children infected with HIV worldwide in 2023


KARACHI: A global report on HIV status among children has revealed that despite progress made in reducing HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths among children, as many as 120,000 children were infected with the diseases across the globe in 2023.

The new HIV infections were found around 77,000 (66%) in Global Alliance, which represents a 38% decline since 2015 and a 17% decline since 2021, according to the report which details progress, gaps and a way forward for the 12 countries included in the Alliance—Angola, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

The report titled “Global Alliance Progress Report on Ending AIDS in Children by 2030”, however, calls for accelerating the pace of progress to meet the HIV-related targets within the stipulated period.

The report shows that only 48% of children living with HIV globally and in Global Alliance countries achieved viral load suppression, versus 73% of adults globally and 79% in Global Alliance countries. Close to 600,000 children globally were not receiving life-saving treatment in 2023, including 400,000 (close to 70%) living in the 12 Global Alliance countries.

In the meantime, it is estimated that about 39.9 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2023 –1.4 million children (0-14 years old) and 38.6 million adults (15+ years old).

In the said report, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima noted: “Yet shockingly, whilst roughly three-quarters of adults living with HIV globally are on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, only about half of children are. If they don’t receive treatment, almost half of children living with HIV will die before the age of two.”

She said there is an urgent need to increase access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and comprehensive care services for infants, children, and adolescents. “This requires stepping up action on preventing and detecting new HIV infections among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and ensuring treatment, and support, for all pregnant and breastfeeding mothers who are living with HIV.”

The report highlighted that globally, since 2000, vertical transmission programmes have averted an estimated 4 million infections among children (0–14 years old).

AIDS-related deaths among children (0–14 years old) have decreased. In 2023, an estimated 76,000 children (0–14 years old) died from AIDS-related causes, including 49,000 (64%) in the Global Alliance countries. “Globally, this represents a 43% decline since 2015 and a 14% decline since 2021.”

Globally, the proportion of HIV-exposed children who receive HIV testing within the first two months of life has increased from 50% in 2015 to 67% in 2023.

“Among the twelve Global Alliance countries, several have achieved strong coverage of lifelong antiretroviral therapy among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV, with Uganda nearing 100%, United Republic of Tanzania at 98%, and South Africa at 97%. Mozambique has achieved 90% coverage, with Zambia at 90%, Angola at 89%, Kenya at 89%, Zimbabwe at 88%, and Cote d’Ivoire at 84%.”

The report further highlighted that in 2023, there were 210,000 new infections globally among young women and girls aged 15—24 years old –130,000 in Global Alliance countries, which is four times higher than the 2025 goal set at 50,000. “Preventing new infections among this age group is critical both to protect the health and wellbeing of young women and to reduce the risk of new infections among children.” –News Desk

Courtesy: Social Track, weekly.

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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