Providing Paediatric Treatment

An estimated 2 million children under 15 are living with HIV. The virus progresses rapidly in children, with an estimated one third of HIV-positive infants dying by the time they reach their first birthday and half dying by their second birthday. In 2007 alone, an estimated 270,000 children died of AIDS-related causes. The vast majority of these deaths were preventable, either through treating opportunistic infections with antibiotics such as cotrimoxazole or through antiretroviral treatment (ART).

In 2007 only 4 per cent of children needing cotrimoxazole received it, and only about 75,000 children – 10 per cent of those in need – had access to ART.

Scaling up

But things are improving for HIV-positive children. Several countries – including Botswana, India, Rwanda, South Africa, Thailand, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia – have been able to scale up HIV treatment for children by integrating it into treatment sites for adults. In Brazil, 95 per cent of children in need of antiretroviral treatment are receiving in. Several countries have new testing methods for early detection of HIV in children.

Increasing commitment

Many groups, including UNICEF, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the World Bank and civil society groups, have been tireless in increasing the level of urgency around paediatric treatment.

Funding for paediatric treatment and diagnosis has also increased. More than $35 million has been raised through UNITAID, a drug-purchasing facility financed through charges on international air travel and other methods. The Clinton Foundation is taking the lead in distributing medical supplies and drugs related to paediatric HIV.

Prices of ARV drugs for children have come down dramatically over the past two years and some are now priced as low as less than $0.16 per day, or $60 per year.