Children and HIV and AIDS
Newsline
Damienne’s story: Raising awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention through open dialogue
TSÉVIÉ, Togo, 9 May 2008 – Damienne, a 17-year-old high school student, has been a peer educator for five years, teaching her classmates about HIV prevention. Her goal, she says, is to get people to speak out and to bury the taboos.
Help and support for Nepalese families living with HIV
ACCHAM DISTRICT, Nepal, 2 May 2008 – Four women sitting cross-legged on the floor are singing the melancholic strains of a song. The women, all of whom are from families affected by HIV in this remote area of western Nepal, improvise the words and help each other complete the couplets.
Support reaches a household of five siblings orphaned by AIDS in Malawi
LILONGWE, Malawi, 30 April May 2008 – At just 13 years of age, Tiyamike was already a veteran caregiver responsible for looking after four younger siblings. Tiyamike’s father had died the year before, due to complications from AIDS, and soon after, when his HIV-infected mother took ill, Tiyamike left school and started working.
Manchester United and FC Barcelona join forces for UNICEF and the fight against AIDS
BARCELONA, Spain, 23 April 2008 – They are fierce competitors on the football pitch, playing in front of millions of fans and television viewers. But just before the match that took place at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, both Manchester United and Football Club Barcelona put aside their rivalries to join UNICEF and the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign.
UNICEF and MTV’s HIV-focused documentary ‘Xpress’ wins award from World Media Festival
NEW YORK, USA, 22 April 2008 – ‘Xpress’, the fourth video documentary co-produced by MTV Latin America and UNICEF in Latin America and the Caribbean, has been announced as the recipent of a Silver Award in the education category at the World Media Festival.
‘Children and AIDS: Second stocktaking report’ cites progress made to date
NEW YORK, USA, 3 April 2008 – Important progress has been made in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS since UNICEF – as a UNAIDS co-sponsoring agency – launched the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign in October 2005.
Kiemde’s story: Combating HIV/AIDS through peer-to-peer education
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, 1 April 2008 – Approximately 120,000 children in Burkina Faso have lost a parent to HIV/AIDS. Among them, is Kiemde, 12, who lost his father two years ago. Now, he dedicates every weekend to teaching his classmates and friends how to protect themselves against the virus that took his father’s life.
A full-service ‘triangle of support’ helps Russian families cope with HIV
CHELYABINSK, Russia, 28 March 2008 – Weeks old but already at risk, the newborns sleeping in the sun-drenched rooms of the No.8 Paediatric Hospital here have special needs that are being carefully monitored.
Preventing mother-to-child transmission to fight HIV/AIDS in Malawi
LILONGWE, Malawi, 25 March 2008 – Mwanza District Hospital, located near the southern border of Malawi, provides crucial care to many of the country’s most vulnerable families. Among them were two young couples who recently arrived at the hospital days apart with different stories but similar needs.
Swazis ‘Walk the Nation’ to support HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention
MANKAYANE, Swaziland, 14 March 2008 – Andreas Simelane, at 63, was the oldest amongst the nearly 2,000 participants in ‘Walk the Nation’, a 12-day journey across the tiny mountain Kingdom of Swaziland. Carried out in hopes of spreading a message of hope, awareness and dignity for people living with HIV and AIDS, the walk concluded yesterday.
Mobile testing and treatment fight HIV/AIDS in Zambia’s Mpika District
MPIKA, Zambia, 11 March 2008 – One in five pregnant women in Zambia is HIV-positive. It is a heart-stopping figure, but it also explains the increasing rates of paediatric HIV that doctors are facing in hospitals and clinics across the country.
Young people embark on first-ever walk across Swaziland to raise HIV awareness
MBABANE, Swaziland, 4 March 2008 – Early morning sunshine greeted more than 100 Swazis and four cabinet ministers who had gathered just inside the border gate separating the Kingdom of Swaziland from Mozambique.
3R-UNICEF All Women’s Futsal Playoffs empower girls to fight AIDS
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 4 March 2008 – More than 1,000 girls and women from across Malaysia came together recently in a spirit of sisterhood and empowerment to unite against AIDS.
Classroom drama and discussion teach young people about HIV in Mozambique
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 28 February 2008 – Every week, activists from Kindlimuka, an association of people living with HIV, visit primary schools in Maputo to discuss with students the ways they can protect themselves against HIV.
China’s Youth Ambassadors raise HIV awareness, online and in the community
BEIJING, China, 28 February 2008 – China’s Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign website was recently honoured as one of the country’s Leading Websites of the Year. The annual award recognizes young people in China who are battling HIV/AIDS through Internet awareness and messages of prevention.
The ‘Bashy Bus Kru' educates youths about HIV
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 4 January 2008 – At Allman Primary School in Kingston, students listen attentively as a group of dynamic peer-educators known as the ‘Bashy Bus Kru’ dance and sing. Though the performance is lively, the topic is serious, focusing on ways for children to protect themselves from HIV and AIDS.
In partnership with UNICEF, delegates from Fútbol Club Barcelona visit Swaziland
NKAMBENI, Swaziland, 13 December 2007 – A ball made from plastic bags is not among the usual equipment used by professional footballers. However, that didn’t stop members of the renowned Fútbol Club Barcelona from joining in a pickup game with children at a 'Neighbourhood Care Point' for orphans and vulnerable children during a two-day visit to Swaziland earlier this month.
UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children visits AIDS projects in São Paulo
SÃO PAULO, Brazil, 10 December 2007 – “I have learned so much from all of the young people that I met and spoke with today. You have inspired me with your optimism, your courage, your determination and your warmth,” said Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Maria Teresa, during the first official field visit in her new capacity as a UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children.
Partners In Health: Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission in Haiti
NEW YORK, USA, 6 December 2007 – In Haiti, where 2.2 per cent of the adult population is living with HIV, according to the latest Demographic and Health Survey, care and prevention are urgent issues. The Zanmi Lasante (‘Partners In Health’ in Haitian Creole) project is actively working to reduce the number of new infections, with a special focus on curbing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
On World AIDS Day, faith-based leaders show solidarity with HIV-affected youth in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, 4 December 2007 – The theme of World AIDS Day, 1 December, in Brazil this year – ‘Qual a sua atitude?’ (‘What’s your attitude?’) – was chosen to help mobilize children, adolescents and all of Brazilian society for positive action on the issue of HIV/AIDS.
‘Red Ribbon Express’ rides the rails to raise youth AIDS awareness in India
NEW DELHI, India, 3 December 2007 – The Railway Age dawned in India in 1853, with the first train to run from Bombay to Thana, a distance of 21 miles. Over 150 years later, the extensive Indian railway network covering almost 70,000 miles is transporting more than passengers and cargo across the continent. Now it is also a vital conduit for raising AIDS awareness.
World AIDS Day 2007: Despite progress on many fronts, children remain vulnerable
NEW YORK, USA, 30 November 2007 – The impact of HIV and AIDS on children and young people continues to be of critical significance as campaigners mark World AIDS Day, 1 December, this year.
Where ignorance can be deadly, breaking the cycle of AIDS in Côte d’Ivoire
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, 29 November 2007 – It is a hot Saturday, and a group of young people gathers beneath a tree to avoid the direct heat of the sun. They listen intently as Hervé Yao, 26, and Carole Gnamaka, 17, discuss safe sex practices. The peer educators are there every weekend to explain to neighbourhood youth the dangers of HIV, how the virus is transmitted and ways to protect against it.
Countess Alexandra relaunches the AIDS campaign in Denmark
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, 27 November 2007 – Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg, relaunched the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign in Denmark today.
Roger Federer to speak out on World AIDS Day
NEW YORK, USA, 26 November 2007 – Roger Federer, the Association of Tennis Professionals world number-one tennis player and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, took a break from his whirlwind schedule of tournaments, grand slams and public appearances to record a video message raising awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Multiple community programmes simultaneously fight HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe
MUTARE, Zimbabwe, 6 November 2007 – Cabby Chinamasa has just spent half his day teaching gym to energetic seventh graders, but the 23-year-old gymnastics teacher is not resting yet. His next assignment is even more ambitious: He is working as a youth volunteer on the UNICEF-supported programme, ‘Kicking AIDS Out Through Sport’.
Annual ‘TV-Aksjonen’ raises over $40 million for UNICEF Norway’s work on HIV and AIDS
OSLO, Norway, 23 October 2007 – UNICEF Norway was honoured during this year’s 'TV-Aksjonen', an annual televised fundraising event and volunteer-driven collection drive in Norway. The 21 October event was dedicated to UNICEF’s work with children and families affected by HIV/AIDS.
UNICEF Executive Director meets with children orphaned by AIDS in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 8 October 2007 — The smiles at the Davey household (not their real name) were bright as the children eagerly welcomed UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman during her four-day mission to South Africa. The youth-headed Davey family is composed of four siblings and their young cousin, ranging in age from 21 to 8. The children have lost both their parents to AIDS.
Nelson Mandela and Executive Director Ann M. Veneman unite for children
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 5 October 2007 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman met with Nelson Mandela today to discuss the importance of partnerships to address children's issues, particularly HIV and AIDS.
Jenna Bush celebrates ‘Ana’s Story’ at UNICEF House book launch
NEW YORK, USA, 1 October 2007 – Jenna Bush, who interned with UNICEF in Latin America from September 2006 through May 2007, has drawn from that experience to write ‘Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope’ – a personal account of a girl who struggles to break free from a vicious cycle of abuse, poverty and illness.
Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission in Kigamboni, Tanzania
KIGAMBONI, Tanzania, 26 September 2007 – Dalila (not her real name), is a 38-year-old single mother who is living with HIV. Caring for both herself and her year-old daughter is a load she can barely carry.
Cricket chief Malcolm Speed promotes ‘the power of sport’ to fight HIV/AIDS
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, 18 September 2007 – International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Malcolm Speed went to bat against HIV and AIDS at the weekend and challenged South African children to take up cricket.
Sri Lankan cricket stars join fight against HIV in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 14 September 2007 – Sri Lankan cricketers Kumar Sangakkara, Jehan Mubarak and Upul Tharanga have been taking time off from their duties on the pitch in the ICC World Twenty20 championships to campaign for children’s rights in the global fight against HIV and AIDS.
ICC Twenty 20 cricket contest goes to bat against AIDS
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 12 September 2007 – The worlds of cricket and AIDS prevention united for children yesterday at the start of the ICC World Twenty 20 tournament.
New Zealand cricketers visit ‘Little Champs’ in Johannesburg township
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 6 September 2007 – It was all song and dance as sporting heroes from the cricketing world arrived at the Little Champs Sports Academy in Alexandra township.
Cricket stars back global AIDS campaign
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 5 September 2007 – The world’s top cricket stars will support the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign at the ICC World Twenty 20 tournament in South Africa from 11-24 September.
Cricket chief Malcolm Speed meets Indian children living with HIV
NEW DELHI, India, 29 August 2007 – Malcolm Speed, the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC), met today with a group of Indian children living with HIV as part of an ongoing partnership to promote the global campaign, Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS.
Norway Cup gives girls from Harare a chance to triumph
HARARE, Zimbabwe, 26 July 2007 - With all the confidence of a world-class soccer star, Omega Mpini, 13, shrugs off the compliments of her teammates and runs back into position. All eyes are on the young girl leaping several feet in the air, volleying the ball across the pitch. As they say in these parts: Goal!
Young people use new media to speak out on HIV and AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 25 July 2007 - As part of a new media video contest, ten young people from around the world documented their thoughts and experiences on HIV and AIDS. Their video blogs, or ‘vlogs’, are available today from UNICEF and MTV Staying Alive and show how HIV affects young people’s daily lives in different ways.
UNICEF delivers first shipment of generic antiretrovirals to Brazil
BRASILIA, Brazil, 5 July 2007 – UNICEF has delivered 113,800 doses of Efavirenz, a generic antiretroviral (ARV) medication, to the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The ARVs will benefit 75,000 people living with HIV in the country, including children and adolescents.
In South Africa, FC Barcelona and friendly rivals score new goals for children
PRETORIA, South Africa , 22 June 2007 – There was Spanish flamenco dancing, African drumming and the unique trumpeting of the South African ‘vuvuzela’ or air horn – called football’s beautiful noise here.
Childhood lost: Assistance for children orphaned by AIDS in Uganda
BARR SUB-COUNTY, Uganda, 21 June 2007 – Imagine yourself as an orphaned child, the head of your household, responsible for your younger siblings. It is difficult for many adults to envision such a childhood.
Testimony and calls for unity set the stage for a global AIDS conference in Kigali
KIGALI, Rwanda, 15 June, 2007 – Some 3,000 men, women and children gathered earlier this week at Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium to make an emphatic statement prior to the 2007 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting, which opens here in the Rwandan capital tomorrow.
Art therapy camps build confidence and hope for Thai children living with HIV
SATTAHIP, Thailand, 14 June 2007 – The swimming and splashing stop at 10 minutes to 6 p.m., exactly. A whistle blows, and 50 children, ranging in age from 7 to 17, run out of the sea, laughing with their friends as they pick up their towels and shoes.
Young peer educators raise awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention in Gujarat youth
GUJARAT, India, 12 June 2007 – The western state of Gujarat, a border area with a fairly high number of migrant labourers, is well known for its rapid economic development and ranks among India’s ‘medium prevalence’ states with regard to HIV.
At South Africa’s third national AIDS conference, all eyes on rising child mortality
DURBAN KWA ZULU NATAL, South Africa, 8 June 2007 – An unprecedented increase in child mortality in South Africa, one of wealthiest countries on the continent, spurred debate this week at the third national AIDS conference in Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal.
Buddhist monks trained to support Cambodian families affected by HIV/AIDS
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, 6 June 2007 – Throughout Cambodia, Buddhist monks are held in high regard, not only as religious leaders but for their traditional role of helping those most in need. For many Cambodians living with or affected by HIV and AIDS, Buddhist monks provide a vital link to treatment and counselling.
‘Idols West Africa’ join the global AIDS campaign
ABUJA, Nigeria, 31 May 2007 – Timi and Omawumi, the two ‘Idols West Africa’ finalists of the current season, are not smiling. Their faces are serious and even sad, symbolizing the gravity of what they are doing – filming a special public service announcement about the effects of HIV/AIDS on children in the region.
Life-skills training turns Turkmen students into pioneers of AIDS awareness
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, 30 May 2007 – Knowledge about the risk of HIV and how to prevent AIDS is very low in Turkmenistan. Less than one in eight women is able to identify the four ways the virus can be transmitted.
‘Friends Helping Friends’ living with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia
SVAY RIENG, Cambodia, 18 May 2007 – Having a network of understanding friends to share the problems of living with HIV/AIDS is difficult in remote rural areas, particularly for young children.
Steinway’s first ‘Lang Lang’ branded piano to benefit AIDS programmes in China
BEIJING, China, 25 April 2007 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and renowned pianist Lang Lang took time out from his busy concert schedule last week to launch his own branded line of pianos at Beijing’s main Steinway & Sons showroom.
Outreach efforts address the double stigma of HIV/AIDS and drug use in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 17 April 2007 – Injecting drug users are overwhelmingly the largest contributor to the spread of HIV and AIDS in Malaysia, and they bear a double stigma.
South African match referee meets with young HIV/AIDS activists in Antigua
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, 10 April 2007 – Mike Procter, a former member of the South African cricket team and current International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee, officiated at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 matches played in Antigua over the past two weeks.
Young Malaysian footballers go on the offensive against HIV and AIDS
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 10 April 2007 – Shawn Daniels, 16, holds a teammate in a headlock, refusing to let go. Instead of coming to the aid of Shawn’s captive, the rest of the team looks on and laughs.
West Indies cricket team receives warm welcome from young cricket players in Guyana
TIMEHRI, Guyana, 3 April 2007 – Under banners proclaiming Unite for Children Unite against AIDS, young cricketers from across Guyana welcomed the West Indies cricket team as they arrived at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Timehri last week.
Irish cricketer visits Jamaican programme for people with disabilities
SPANISH TOWN, Jamaica, 28 March 2007 - In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, Ireland is probably the team that best knows what it is to beat the odds. Having prevailed over Pakistan and tied with Zimbabwe during the group stage matches, they made their first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup appearance.
Bangladesh and Bermuda cricketers stamp out HIV/AIDS stigma
ARANGUEZ, Trinidad, 23 March 2007 – ICC World Cup 2007 cricketers from Bangladesh and Bermuda teamed up with children and young people in Trinidad on Thursday to help break the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS.
Sri Lankan cricketer treats Trinidadian children to ICC Cricket World Cup 2007
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, 22 March 2007 – Wednesday was a special day for the children of the Cyril Ross Nursery in Tunapuna, just outside the Trinidadian capital, Port of Spain. The Nursery is well known in Trinidad as home to 38 children – 36 of them living with HIV.
Malaysia works to break the cycle of mother-to-child HIV transmission
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 22 March 2007 – Puteri, 12, picks up a large orange tablet and drops it into her mouth. It takes two gulps of water before she manages to swallow it. She frowns, looking at the small dish in her hand containing three other pills of various shapes and colours.
Indian cricket star brings message of hope to Trinidad youths
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, 21 March 2007 – They came from all over the community of Gonzales – schoolchildren, local residents, young cricketers and youth groups – drawn to a playing field for a visit from one of the greatest batsmen of all time, India’s Sachin Tendulkar.
Netherlands cricketers support AIDS awareness in St. Kitts
ST. KITTS, Eastern Caribbean, 21 March 2007 – Two members of the Netherlands cricket team showed their support for the global Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS campaign on Tuesday by visiting two day care centres in St. Kitts, one of the islands hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
England cricketers inspire youths and support AIDS campaign in St. Lucia
ST. LUCIA, Eastern Caribbean, 20 March 2007 – England cricketers took time off from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 on Monday to meet local young people here and show their support for the global campaign on children and AIDS.
Zimbabwean cricket star visits Jamaican youth centre
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 19 March 2007 – Following an impressive knock of 67 runs against Ireland in a match that ended in a thrilling tie at Jamaica’s Sabina Park, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Zimbabwe’s opening batsman, took time off on Friday to do the other thing he enjoys – helping children.
Sri Lankan cricket star brings a message of hope to children in Trinidad
TUNAPUNA, Trinidad, 19 March 2007 – “Hi Uncle Kumar,” shouted the children of the Cyril Ross Nursery as they welcomed Sri Lankan cricket star Kumar Sangakkara to their home here, just outside Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Scottish cricket players visit St. Kitts teens involved in HIV/AIDS prevention project
ST. KITTS, 19 March 2007 – It has often been said that youth hold the solutions to many of the problems that they face.
Kenyan and Canadian cricketers visit Boys’ Training Centre in St. Lucia
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, 16 March 2007 – Twenty-seven young boys living away from their homes and families – some abused or abandoned, others in conflict with the law – got a special treat when cricketers from the Kenyan and Canadian teams took time from their busy schedules to visit the UNICEF-supported Boys’ Training Centre in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, where the boys stay.
Peer educators in Mali spread the word about HIV/AIDS
BAMAKO, Mali, 13 March 2007 – Soraya clearly remembers the misconceptions about HIV and AIDS that her uncle passed on to her. She says he told her that the disease was “just a project to get money from developed countries,” that it “does not concern us” and that “white people invented it.”
ICC cricket mascot Mello tours Guyana to raise AIDS awareness
NEW YORK, USA, 9 March 2007 – Mello, the official mascot of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, arrived at Guyana’s Timehri International Airport recently, greeted by the sounds of traditional Caribbean steel drum music and a throng of young fans.
ICC Cricket World Cup begins, highlighting the needs of children affected by AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 12 March 2007 – Cricket’s largest and most prestigious event, the ICC Cricket World Cup, officially kicked off in Jamaica this weekend with a colourful ceremony featuring 10,000 spectators and over 2,000 performers.
Executive Director visits new school for orphaned and vulnerable children
AWASSA, Ethiopia, 23 February 2007 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman visited the newly built Berhan Guzo School for orphaned and disadvantaged children here on Wednesday.
Donors come together for Zimbabwe’s orphans and vulnerable children
HARARE, Zimbabwe, 22 February 2007 – In a one-room hut with a torn blanket for a door, Miriam, 16, lives with her six younger siblings.
Uganda Kids League in exhibition match with FC Barcelona cadet team
BARCELONA, Spain, 2 February 2007 – Amongst the TV cameras and photographers, 16 boys from Uganda shivered in the cold and rain but waited patiently. When the moment arrived, they walked out onto the pitch in Camp Nou – the stadium of Football Club Barcelona – and the crowd roared in appreciation.
Report finds AIDS campaign gathering momentum despite major challenges
NEW YORK, USA, 16 January 2007 – A global campaign to put children at the heart of the fight against AIDS is gathering momentum but much, much more needs to be done, according to a stocktaking report on the initiative’s first year.
New PSAs in Ecuador urge pregnant woman to be tested and treated for HIV
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador, 4 January 2007 – When Andrea, 20, discovered that her husband had HIV/AIDS, she immediately got tested. Already five months pregnant, she discovered that she was HIV-positive.
Namibian Digital Diarist talks to other young people about AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 17 January 2007 – In her latest Digital Diary, UNICEF Radio youth reporter Livey Van Wyk, 21, takes her recording equipment into the streets and youth centres of her community outside Windhoek, Namibia. She asks young people to talk to her about their country’s future and their thoughts about HIV/AIDS.
West African children take to the airwaves to make their voices heard
MONROVIA, Liberia and FREETOWN, Sierra Leone, 18 December 2006 – This year’s ICDB on 10 December served as clarion call for broadcasters in Liberia and Sierra Leone to engage the voices of young people, providing them with a platform to air their views on reversing the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Lagos corporate football teams help fight AIDS
LAGOS, Nigeria, 12 December 2006 – The hot sun beat down on the sandy pitch at Lekki British International School in Lagos as 10 football players struggled for the ball.
UN Special Envoy cites key humanitarian issues on final mission to southern Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 13 December 2006 – The future of southern Africa depends on how governments cope with the orphan crisis and the effects of HIV/AIDS in the region, said the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs in southern Africa, James Morris.
Egypt joins the global AIDS campaign in a bid to keep HIV prevalence low
CAIRO, Egypt, 11 December 2006 – Egypt has become the latest country to join UNICEF’s global UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign. The occasion was marked by a gala evening involving some of the Arab world’s leading celebrities, who gathered with street children and community leaders to raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS.
International Children’s Day of Broadcasting 2006 to focus on fighting HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 8 December 2006 – Behind the scenes, in front of the cameras and on the air, youth around the world are using media to express and empower themselves.
Spanish footballers ‘keep the promise’ to children for World AIDS Day
BARCELONA, Spain, 5 December 2006 – More than 20 football teams, including FC Barcelona and FC Real Madrid, took part in a massive display of solidarity for children affected by HIV and AIDS this past weekend.
AIDS awareness songs kick-off hip-hop tour of US public schools
NEW YORK, USA, 1 December 2006 – Students at Martin Luther King High School in New York had time out of class today for an AIDS awareness lesson hip-hop style, thanks to rapper MAGZ. The 20-year-old hip-hop artist visited the school on World AIDS Day at the start of his AIDS Awareness Public School Hip-Hop Tour.
Sonia Gandhi and Bill Clinton launch AIDS programme for children
NEW DELHI, India, 30 November 2006 – On the eve of World AIDS Day, former US President Bill Clinton and Sonia Gandhi, one of India’s leading politicians, launched India’s first National Paediatric Programme on HIV and AIDS.
Two US youths with HIV join the fight against AIDS in Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 30 November 2006 – Kimberly Canady, 19, and Elias Perez, 20, both from Brooklyn, look tired but have a sparkle in their eyes as they arrive in Ethiopia after the 16-hour flight donated by Ethiopian Airlines.
On World AIDS Day, children inspire new partnerships to fight HIV
NEW YORK, USA, 30 November 2006 – Twenty-five years after the first case of AIDS was recorded, the impact of the disease on children and young people is inspiring creative new partnerships to create an HIV-free generation.
Teenage fighter and survivor helps prevent AIDS among young people in Romania
BUCHAREST, Romania, 29 November 2006 – Between 1988 and 1990, approximately 10,000 children in Romania were diagnosed with HIV. Some 7,000 are still alive. Cristian Traicu, 18, is one of them.
Basketball stars and UNICEF team up for new HIV/AIDS television campaign
NEW YORK, USA, 27 November 2006 – In the run-up to the 25th annual celebration of World AIDS Day on 1 December, the US-based National Basketball Association (NBA) and UNICEF today launched a new public service announcement campaign featuring 10 high-profile NBA and Women’s National Basketball Association stars.
Former US President Clinton and Muppet Kami share video message about HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 24 November 2006 – In the run-up to World AIDS Day, 1 December, former US president Bill Clinton has joined Kami the Muppet to deliver a message about HIV and AIDS.
Malaysian youth centres help to keep children safe from HIV/AIDS
PENDANG KEDAH, Malaysia, 22 November 2006 – For many adolescents in Malaysia, the pressure to engage in high-risk behaviour is strong.
Angélique Kidjo raises HIV/AIDS awareness, and hope, in northern Uganda
LIRA DISTRICT, Uganda, 21 November 2006 – On a two-day official visit to northern Uganda, an area just emerging from conflict, renowned musician and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angélique Kidjo spread the message of HIV prevention and testing in her unique way – bopping and hopping with the women and skipping and jumping with the girls.
Moldovan youths ‘act out’ with the Social Theatre Initiative
CHISINAU, Moldova, 21 November 2006 – A group of strangers watches silently as a 15-year-old girl is pressured into drinking vodka and doing drugs.
UNICEF forms partnership with Baylor Initiative to combat paediatric AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 17 November 2006 – Children infected with HIV will receive more medical help, thanks to a new partnership between UNICEF and the Baylor International Paediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI).
Youth radio airs peer-to-peer HIV/AIDS education in Georgia
TBILISI, Georgia, 14 November 2006 – Despite a large global increase in HIV cases over the past decade, Georgia still has a low rate of HIV prevalence rate.
AIDS campaign launches in Mongolia
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, 13 November 2006 – The UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign was launched in Mongolia’s capital city last month, with opening remarks from the Chairperson of the National Authority for Children, Togtokhnyam Mijiddorj.
In Swaziland, grandmothers shoulder the burden of AIDS
BUSELENI, Swaziland, 10 November 2006 – At 64, Evelyn Sikholiwe Simelani should be enjoying the benefits of her advanced years. She hoped her daughter would help her have a comfortable retirement, secure her financially and give her emotional support.
Sports programme helps children fight AIDS and abuse in Zimbabwe
MUTARE, Zimbabwe, 9 November 2006 – Betty Mahomva, 9, ties her hair into a ponytail, stretches her legs and concentrates. She and her classmates are playing a game, but they are also learning an important lesson – how to avoid HIV/AIDS.
Ethiopian President and Olympic stars launch ‘Dream Campaign’ for orphaned children
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 7 November 2006 – Ethiopian Olympic star Haile Gebrselassie urged people to put on their running shoes and take part in a groundbreaking campaign for Ethiopia’s 6 million orphans.
Leading by example helps Madagascar keep HIV/AIDS at bay
MAROAMBIHY, Madagascar, 2 November 2006 – Here in Madagascar, political leaders take HIV tests in public, condoms are easily available and mobile testing units are sent to remote parts of the country.
South African cricketers instil hope in the lives of Indian children affected by HIV
AHMEDABAD, India, 27 October 2006 – South African cricket players Shaun Pollock, AB De Villiers, Andrew Hall and Jonty Rohdes recently visited India – not to play cricket games, but to spend time with children affected by HIV.
Campaign in solidarity with children affected by HIV/AIDS launched in Russia
MOSCOW, Russia, 26 October, 2006 – A year after the Global Campaign UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS was launched in Russia by the Deputy Minister of Health, a new media campaign entitled ‘I Care About Every Child!’ has been launched.
On the first anniversary of the AIDS campaign, living with HIV in Côte d’Ivoire
CÔTE D’IVOIRE, 25 October 2006 – There are close to 100 visitors waiting in the UNICEF-supported health centre today. Women and men, many with their babies and children, have come seeking many different services: HIV testing, counselling and medical treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS-related illnesses.
Digital Diary: Jamaican AIDS activist Kerrel McKay talks to other youth leaders
NEW YORK, USA, 19 October 2006 – In her latest Digital Diary, UNICEF Radio Youth Reporter and Jamaican AIDS activist Kerrel McKay interviews other young leaders she met at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto.
Brazil and Jamaica unite against adolescent HIV/AIDS
JAMAICA/BRAZIL, 16 October 2006 – For over two decades Jamaica and Brazil have undertaken considerable efforts to get the HIV/AIDS epidemic under control.
Community education raises HIV/AIDS awareness in Papua, Indonesia
PAPUA, Indonesia, 29 September 2006 – Like many young people, 19-year-old Rifal (not his real name) never used to worry about AIDS. He saw it as a problem that only affected high-risk groups, such as intravenous drug users. His view changed in February 2006, when he discovered that he had contracted HIV.
AIDS crisis strains family life in Zimbabwe
MURAMBINDA, Zimbabwe, 26 September 2006 – In a rundown pole and dagga hut, where the only piece of furniture is an old paraffin lamp, Mwaimbodei Chamutsa lives with her five grandchildren.
China launches youth AIDS campaign with a global impact
BEIJING, China, 21 September 2006 – The global UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign was launched last week in China, the world’s most populous country.
Corporate partners unite to help children affected by AIDS
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, 11 September 2006 – “Many of us have a strong desire to make a difference,” said Alfred Josefsen, one of Europe’s most successful business leaders, at a high-profile AIDS campaign event for corporate leaders in Copenhagen late last week.
FC Barcelona-UNICEF alliance kicks off with help for children affected by HIV
NEW YORK, USA, 7 September 2006 – Futbol Club Barcelona kicked off a new global alliance with UNICEF today at a press conference in New York. The partnership, benefiting children across the developing world, will focus on those affected by HIV/AIDS in Swaziland during its first year.
Tennis ace Roger Federer stars in video spot for HIV/AIDS campaign
NEW YORK, USA, 29 August 2006 – His bid for glory at the U.S. Open begins tomorrow, but Roger Federer has already served up an ace in the fight against AIDS with the release of a new public service announcement for UNICEF.
Taking the fight against HIV/AIDS into Islamic schools in East Java, Indonesia
PROBOLINGGO, Indonesia, 28 August 2006 – A call to prayer, instead of a school bell, signals the end of the morning session of classes at Zainul Hasan Islamic school in East Java.
Fighting AIDS and drug use in Bangladesh, one needle at a time
RAJSHAHI, Bangladesh, 25 August 2006 – Carrying a large umbrella to shield herself from the hot sun, Mosammat Sabera Yasmin walks along a narrow alley in a poor neighbourhood in this western Bangladeshi city. The young woman is visiting the house of a heroin addict who has just returned from rehab.
Japanese children speak up to fight AIDS
YOKOHAMA, Japan, 24 August 2006 – UNICEF youth activists issued an appeal at the AIDS Forum in Yokohama, an annual event promoting public awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention.
‘We Are Together’: Traveling exhibit documents lives of children living with AIDS
NANNING, China, 21 August 2006 – A photo exhibition in China is tackling stigma and discrimination by putting a face on the AIDS pandemic.
AIDS 2006: Young people are key to world’s response
NEW YORK, USA, 18 August 2006 – Young people must be included in the world’s response to HIV and AIDS, delegates to the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, also known as AIDS 2006, were told as they wrapped up their biennial meeting.
UNICEF Project Officer honoured at AIDS 2006
TORONTO, Canada, 15 August 2006 – UNICEF’s Penelope Campbell was recognized at the XVI International AIDS Conference on Monday as the winner of a prestigious award for young women working on the front lines of the fight against AIDS.
Africa’s orphans at higher risk of HIV, says report
TORONTO, Canada, 15 August 2006 – African children orphaned as a result of AIDS, especially adolescent girls and young women in the 15-24 age group, are at higher risk of HIV infection than other children, according to a report issued yesterday by UNICEF, UNAIDS and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
‘AIDS 2006’ conference begins: Time to deliver for children
TORONTO, Canada, 14 August 2006 – The world is doing more than ever to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS but even more needs to be done to protect the youngest and most vulnerable, delegates to the XVI International AIDS Conference were told yesterday in Toronto.
AIDS 2006: Conflict makes girls and women even more vulnerable to HIV
TORONTO, Canada, 14 August 2006 – In times of conflict, girls and women are even more vulnerable to sexual violence, HIV and AIDS, according to experts dealing with displaced populations and refugees.
At Brazil summit, media leaders unite to fight HIV/AIDS in Latin America
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, 11 August 2006 – Twenty-two senior media executives from eight countries met in Rio de Janeiro this week for the first ever Global Media AIDS Initiative Summit of Latin American Media Leaders.
Young people prepare to be heard at ‘AIDS 2006’ global conference
TORONTO, Canada, 10 August 2006 – Young people will have more opportunity to influence the XVI International AIDS Conference (also known as ‘AIDS 2006’) than any of the previous gatherings, according to the organizers of the AIDS 2006 Youth Pre-conference.
Youth campaign aims to keep drugs out of Kuala Lumpur clubs
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 10 August 2006 – Concerned about the increased availability of so called ‘feel-good’ drugs such as amphetamines and Ecstasy, the popular Zouk dance club in Kuala Lumpur and UNICEF have launched a campaign designed to educate young people on the dangers of drug use.
New HIV testing method allows early diagnosis for infants in South Africa
MSELENI, South Africa, 9 August 2006 – A new method of testing for paediatric AIDS is saving the lives of babies and has led to more than four times the number of infants being treated with anti-retroviral medications (ARVs) here in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
Cambodian theatre troupe raises AIDS awareness among young garment workers
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, 3 August 2006 – Two actors in heavy make-up swagger drunkenly across the lot of a garment factory in Phnom Penh. Their antics draw raucous laughter from a growing crowd of young women who are taking a lunch break.
HIV/AIDS prevention is central theme at Brazil’s largest scouting meeting
BRASILIA, Brazil, 31 July 2006 – Over 400 Brazilian Boy Scouts and Girl Guides participated in a series of HIV/AIDS workshops during Jamboree III, the biggest scouting meeting in Brazil. The activities, which ran from 16-20 July, emphasized the importance of learning about and preventing HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
A ‘Wind of Hope’ for two brothers orphaned by AIDS
ISIOLO, Kenya, 27 July 2006 – Siblings Anthony and Gabriel Koikoi are the best of friends; they can't afford not to be. Since both their parents died three years ago, the two brothers are all that is left of their family.
UN leaders meet drug companies on HIV/AIDS medications
NEW YORK, USA, 25 July 2006 – UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with top executives of nine of the world’s leading research-based and generic pharmaceutical companies to discuss how to work together to expand people’s access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support in low and middle-income countries.
On tour to raise AIDS awareness, Manchester United players meet Nelson Mandela
LONDON, England, 20 July 2006 – Manchester United team manager and UNICEF UK Ambassador Sir Alex Ferguson and his squad met with former South African President Nelson Mandela at the offices of the Nelson Mandela Foundation in Johannesburg yesterday.
South Africa launches AIDS campaign at conference on vulnerable children
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 18 July 2006 – The UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign was launched in South Africa last week during a national conference on orphans and vulnerable children.
Goodwill Ambassador Claudia Schiffer speaks out on HIV/AIDS in new TV spot
NEW YORK, 14 July 2006 – With the eyes of the world still on Germany after its successful hosting of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, one of the country’s most famous exports is using the spotlight to speak out against HIV/AIDS.
In Cameroon, a family living with HIV faces difficult choices
NJINIKOM, Cameroon, 10 July 2006 – Virginia, 26 and John, 31, both of whom are living with HIV, are Cameroonian peasant farmers with two children, Mary and Francis (not their real names). Encountered at the youth friendly center at St. Martin de Porres’ Hospital here, they disclosed that the purpose of their visit was a medical check-up for Francis, who also has the AIDS virus.
Livey’s Digital Diary: Living with HIV in Namibia
NEW YORK, USA, 6 July 2006 – Livey Van Wyk is 21 years old and living with HIV in Katutura, Namibia. In her home community, she has experienced stigma and discrimination because of her HIV status.
Botswana wireless company supports UNICEF efforts for orphaned children
GABORONE, Botswana, 30 June 2006 – Hot on the heels of the launch of the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign here last month, Botswana’s primary mobile telephone company, Mascom Wireless, has donated $127,000 to UNICEF orphan care projects.
HIV counselling programme reaches out to mothers in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, 28 June 2006 – Incapable of speech and abandoned by her mother at an early age, Mary (not her real name) has faced many challenges in life. But none of her problems have been as challenging as the ones she faces now because of HIV. Mary, 32, her young son and his father are all living with HIV.
Activist from Côte d’Ivoire speaks out on the impact of HIV on young people
BOUAKÉ, Côte d’Ivoire, 26 June 2006 – Rodrigue Koffi Kolou, 20, lost his mother when he was 10 and his father when he was 14, both from AIDS-related illnesses. It was a difficult time for the family.
A second chance for children and families living with HIV in Gambia
BANJUL, Gambia, 23 June 2006 – Like most six-year-old girls, Isatou enjoys snacking – in her case, on bananas. She likes to go to school, play ball and most of all, spend time with her family.
Shakira helps launch UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS in Spain
MADRID, Spain, 23 June 2006 – UNICEF’s Spanish National Committee launched its UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign yesterday with the help of international superstar and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Shakira.
In southeastern Iran, street theatre raises HIV awareness
BAM, Iran, 21 June 2006 – “You idiot!” yells the old man, rushing towards the tent to pull a young man out. “If you used the same needle my son uses for drugs you now probably carry the disease,” he roars.
NBA and UNICEF promote AIDS education through sports in China
SHANGHAI, China, 20 June 2006 – UNICEF has teamed up with the National Basketball Association (NBA) to distribute HIV/AIDS education materials in sports kits to schools in seven provinces in China.
Boy orphaned by AIDS demands action for children
PARIS, France, 16 June 2006 – Rodrigue Koffi Kolou, 20, from Côte d’Ivoire lost both parents to AIDS-related illnesses. Wrapping up a conference on Childhood and AIDS, he demanded action and not more talk.
At Paris conference, new initiative to help AIDS-affected children announced
PARIS, France, 15 June 2006 - Opening a two-day international Conference on Childhood and AIDS, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy today expressed the hope that a new airline tax would help millions of children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Paris conference to spotlight urgent needs of children affected by HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 13 June 2006 – Twenty-five years of the AIDS pandemic have redefined the very meaning of childhood. On 15-16 June, a special ‘Childhood and AIDS’ conference in Paris, France will highlight the urgent need to help millions of children who have been left vulnerable by this worldwide catastrophe.
Youth take the stage at HIV/AIDS symposium
TOKYO, Japan, 1 June 2006 –The UNICEF symposium on HIV/AIDS, sponsored by The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and Yomiuri Shimbun News Paper, was held at Tokyo U-port theater on 23 May.
UN urges a stronger response to AIDS, the ‘greatest challenge of our generation’
NEW YORK, USA, 5 June 2006 – Three days of high-level meetings at United Nations headquarters in New York culminated on Friday in a General Assembly declaration that aims to strengthen the world’s response to AIDS. While the wide-ranging statement reaffirms previous goals set in 2001, it also calls for ambitious national targets and promotes the protection of young people – especially girls – to reduce their vulnerability to HIV.
UNICEF National Action Day raises HIV/AIDS awareness in Germany
BERLIN, Germany, 5 June 2006 – Dressed in red UNICEF shirts and carrying crosses with the slogan, ‘Stop AIDS! Every minute a child is dying of AIDS’, about 100 students gathered in front of the Chancellery building here to raise HIV/AIDS awareness on UNICEF National Action Day. The event took place on 12 May in anticipation of the United Nations 2006 High Level Meeting on AIDS, which wrapped up on Friday in New York.
UN partners cap high-level AIDS meeting with night of remembrance
NEW YORK, USA, 2 June 2006 – The African Children’s Choir led an evening of remembrance and hope at United Nations headquarters last night – remembrance of the more than 25 million men, women and children who have died of AIDS, and hope of winning the battle against HIV and AIDS.
Art project helps Thai children heal scars of HIV stigma
BANGKOK, Thailand, 2 June 2006 – Before stepping out onto the stage, 15-year-old Ying (not her real name) takes a deep breath and holds tightly onto the mask that will serve not only to make her less nervous but also to hide her identity.
UNICEF Youth Spokesperson Ronan Farrow heads call for universal access to HIV treatment
NEW YORK, USA, 1 June 2006 – UNICEF Spokesperson for Youth Ronan Farrow hosted a breakfast meeting at United Nations headquarters today to help ensure that children are included in the global movement to secure universal access to AIDS prevention and treatment programmes.
AIDS issues at the forefront of National Children’s Day in Nigeria
ABUJA, Nigeria, 31 May 2006 – The global campaign against child AIDS received a huge boost in Nigeria last week as the country celebrated National Children’s Day and its theme, ‘Children and HIV/AIDS: Addressing the Challenges’.
US National Basketball Association and UNICEF unite for children affected by AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 31 May 2006 – America’s National Basketball Association (NBA) and UNICEF have joined forces in a drive to the basket, supporting the global UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign.
UN leadership charts ‘a way forward’ in AIDS battle
NEW YORK, 31 May 2006 – The United Nations began today to take stock of the progress it has made in slowing the AIDS pandemic and to draw up its battle plan for the future.
Human ‘red ribbon’ unites the world against AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 31 May 2006 – Twenty-five years after HIV/AIDS was first diagnosed, the virus shows no sign of letting up. Tens of millions of people have died as a result, leaving 15 million children orphaned.
UNAIDS report says spread of AIDS slowing globally but increasing in some regions
NEW YORK, USA, 30 May 2006 – The most comprehensive report ever compiled on the AIDS pandemic says the global rate of infection appears to be slowing down.
'Saving Lives': Global movement unites behind children’s right to HIV treatment
NEW YORK, USA, 26 May 2006 — Every minute, a child dies from an AIDS-related illness, and only 1 child in 20 who needs HIV treatment receives it. There is an urgent need for the international community to do more to treat children living with HIV.
For youth in the Central African Republic, the battle against HIV is just beginning
BANGUI, Central African Republic, 26 May 2006 – Although research has confirmed that 13.5 per cent of the population in the Central African Republic (CAR) is infected with HIV, until recently not a lot was done about it.
UN team leads AIDS Walk New York
NEW YORK, USA, 22 May 2006 – The UN Cares Team, made of many United Nations staff members and their families, led some 47,000 people in this year’s AIDS Walk New York.
Malaysian women’s futsal tournament promotes healthy living
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 22 May 2006 – For hundreds of girls and women from all over Malaysia, the ‘3R’-UNICEF All Women’s Futsal Playoffs were a chance to meet and share stories, build self-esteem and, of course, compete in the largest women’s-only futsal (indoor football) tournament in Malaysia.
Goodwill Ambassador Jessica Lange visits a clinic for children living with HIV in Russia
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, 18 May 2006 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jessica Lange is visiting the Russian Federation to help draw attention to the needs of vulnerable children, including those living with HIV and AIDS.
Danny Glover visits HIV/AIDS youth outreach centre in Jamaica
NEW YORK, USA, 18 May 2006 – After giving a presentation on the final day of the second annual Conference on Caribbean Philanthropy recently in Montego Bay, Jamaica, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Danny Glover could have simply flown home.
Children’s march helps launch HIV/AIDS campaign in Botswana
GABORONE, Botswana, 15 May 2006 – More than 300 children marched through Botswana’s capital city on Friday to launch their country’s UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign. Dressed in matching yellow campaign t-shirts, they brought morning traffic to a standstill while chanting songs about HIV/AIDS prevention and calling attention to issues that directly affect their future.
Girl’s football programme scores hit against HIV in Kenya
NAIROBI, Kenya, 12 May 2006 – Africa’s biggest youth sports organization is taking a leading role in educating girls about HIV/AIDS. Backed by UNICEF, the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) helps them develop life skills and provides information on how to stop the disease from spreading.
Strength and tears: Angélique Kidjo sees toll of HIV on children in Zimbabwe
HARARE, Zimbabwe, 8 May 2006 – From an early age, children are told to reach for the stars but very rarely does a star reach out to them. Angélique Kidjo is one star who does.
ARV initiative brings hope to people living with AIDS in Sao Tome and Principe
NEW YORK, USA, 8 May 2006 – Sao Tome and Principe is now offering universal access to antiretrovirals medications (ARVs), thanks to a new initiative by an alliance between UNICEF, UNAIDS, the Brazilian Government and seven partner countries.
Angélique Kidjo lifts children’s spirits at HIV clinic in Nairobi
NAIROBI, Kenya, 1 May 2006 – It was not a typical day for the children at the Githogoro Community Outreach Programme. In addition to their routine check-ups, they were treated to a visit late last week by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angélique Kidjo, on the fourth day of her trip to Kenya. Earlier in the week the West African singer-songwriter had visited drought-affected communities in northern Kenya.
At a children’s festival in Burkina Faso, a ‘heartfelt cry’ to fight AIDS
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, 28 April 2006 – The First Lady of Burkina Faso, Chantal Compaoré, joined over 130 boys and girls here for the ‘Deni Show’, a yearly cultural festival celebrating children’s rights.
Stigma of AIDS leads to killing of an orphaned Kenyan boy
NEW YORK, USA, 21 April 2006 – The murder of a 15-year-old orphan stigmatized for living with AIDS has led hundreds of protestors to take to the streets of Kenya’s capital, Nairobi. The boy, Isaiah Gakuyo, had lost both his mother and grandmother to AIDS-related diseases. He was living with an uncle who allegedly stabbed him to death with a pitch-fork because of his HIV status.
Youth group in Panama teaches peers about HIV/AIDS through drama and art
COLON, Panama, 19 April 2006 – Once a week Jose, 16, gets together with some of his friends to hang out, sing, dance and talk, just like teenagers everywhere. Unlike many typical teens, though, Jose and his group mainly discuss HIV/AIDS.
‘Thembi’s AIDS Diary’: A year in the life of a South African teenager
NEW YORK, USA, 18 April 2006 – For the past year, Thembi Ngubane, a 19-year-old from the township of Khayelitsa, South Africa, has been recording a diary of her struggle to live with AIDS.
Shakira public-service TV spot highlights effects of HIV/AIDS on education
NEW YORK, USA, 17 April 2006 – The UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign got a huge boost today with the release of a new public service announcement by international pop star Shakira.
New initiative aims to accelerate HIV prevention throughout Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 12 April 2006 – In simultaneous launches at four corners of the continent, leaders of the African Union and the United Nations system have made a public declaration to accelerate HIV prevention in all of Africa.
China’s first AIDS Youth Ambassadors make history at the Great Wall
BEIJING, China, 12 April 2006 – In the shadow of China’s historic Great Wall, UNICEF and the China National Committee for the Care of Children made some more history last weekend with the launch of a network of 100 AIDS Youth Ambassadors.
‘Child-to-Child’ radio broadcasts HIV/AIDS prevention messages in Mozambique
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 11 April 2006 – The microphones are tested, the tapes are rolling, the countdown begins and the ‘ON AIR’ sign flashes up. It looks like just another normal programme going to air from the marble corridors of Radio Mozambique, in a beautifully preserved Portuguese colonial structure in downtown Maputo.
Stars unite against AIDS in new UK public service announcement
NEW YORK, New York, 5 April 2006 – The UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign got a huge boost recently as eight stars of the stage, screen, soccer pitch and fashion world joined together to record a public service announcement about HIV/AIDS.
Cameroon launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
YAOUNDE, Cameroon, 30 March 2006 – The MTN Foundation signed an agreement with UNICEF earlier this month to help fund HIV/AIDS efforts here, including the training of young peer educators, voluntary HIV testing and counseling, and care for people living with AIDS.
Miss Universe lends star power to HIV/AIDS campaign
NEW YORK, USA, 29 March 2006 – The reigning Miss Universe, Natalie Glebova, is lending her support to the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign through a public service announcement released today.
Fatu’s story: Orphaned by AIDS in Sierra Leone, teenage girl cares for her family
ALLEN TOWN, Sierra Leone, 28 March 2006 – Many of the 35,000 orphans in Sierra Leone live in households headed by elderly people, children or adult relatives who are terminally ill. A large number live in dire poverty.
Lebanon launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
BEIRUT, Lebanon, 27 March 2006 – Earlier this month, 20 health professionals here completed an intensive, World Health Organization-sponsored training session on monitoring and evaluation of HIV/AIDS.
East Asia and Pacific region agrees on ‘Hanoi Call to Action’ against HIV/AIDS
HANOI, Viet Nam, 24 March 2006 – Government officials and delegates from across East Asia and the Pacific vowed today to take swift and decisive actions tackling the issue of children and HIV/AIDS in the region.
Experts say HIV prevention efforts aren’t reaching children at risk in East Asia and Pacific
HANOI, Viet Nam, 23 March 2006 – HIV prevention efforts in East Asia and the Pacific are failing to reach children and young people most at risk of infection because of persistent stigma and discrimination, experts said Thursday at the region’s highest-level conference on the virus’s impact on children.
Princess Alexandra launches AIDS campaign in Denmark
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, 23 March 2006 – Her Highness Princess Alexandra of Denmark launched the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign here today, calling the pandemic “the single largest catastrophe of our generation.”
Children ‘missing’ from HIV/AIDS response, regional meeting in Viet Nam told
HANOI, Viet Nam, 22 March 2006 – Children and young people can play a crucial role in curbing the AIDS pandemic in East Asia and the Pacific, but they are still missing from efforts to prevent the disease, international health officials said today at the start of a regional conference on HIV/AIDS and children.
Viet Nam: Youth workshop gives voice to children affected by HIV and AIDS
HANOI, Viet Nam, 21 March 2006 – Children and young people must be on top of the HIV and AIDS agenda in East Asia and the Pacific, said 13 youth delegates to the region’s first-ever regional consultation on children and HIV/AIDS, which begins here tomorrow.
Historic regional meeting on Children and AIDS
HANOI, Viet Nam, 20 March 2006 – The impact of HIV and AIDS on children is the focus of an historic two-day meeting in Hanoi this week as experts, activists, politicians and young people gather to discuss ways to stem the spread of the pandemic in East Asia and the Pacific.
Lesotho: New guidelines set for care of orphans and vulnerable children
MASERU, Lesotho, 17 March 2006 – The increasing rate at which children are being orphaned and abandoned in Lesotho has called for concerted action to regulate institutions that purport to be taking care of children.
Spring reunion brings together host families of children affected by HIV/AIDS in China
BEIJING, China, 13 March 2006 – The Chinese Spring Festival is always a time of reunion, when people anticipate crowded train stations and packed airports on the way to see their loved ones. This year a special reunion took place in Beijing for a group of 20 families who shared a life-changing experience.
Poster contest in Tokyo raises awareness about HIV/AIDS
TOKYO, Japan, 13 March 2006 – Children have been largely invisible in the world’s response to HIV/AIDS, but a poster contest held in Tokyo has helped put them back in the picture.
Community activists help children and families cope with HIV/AIDS in Mozambique
MAPUTO CITY, Mozambique, 2 March 2006 – Playing in his front yard in Maputo, 13-year-old Antonio looks no different from his four younger cousins. He giggles and laughs and talks about being an engineer when he grows up. He wants to build tall buildings one day.
UNICEF and the Catholic Medical Mission Board join forces to fight AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, March 1, 2006 - UNICEF and the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) signed an agreement today to collaborate globally to expand the reach of programmes to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and provide paediatric care and treatment.
A mother grieves for three children who could have been saved from HIV/AIDS
MABYUKU, Zimbabwe, 27 February 2006 – Three years ago Zvanyadza Njanji met her second husband. They stayed in Harare’s struggling township of Mabvuku, home to some of Zimbabwe’s poorest citizens.
Orphanage and dance company unite for AIDS awareness
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 28 February 2006 - A unique collaboration between an orphanage and one of Africa’s most celebrated dance companies shows how HIV/AIDS messages can be communicated through performance, while at the same time demonstrating the transforming power of art.
China: Youth face increased risk of exposure to HIV/AIDS
BEIJING, China, 22 February 2006 – The incidence of AIDS is still on the rise in China, according to a joint assessment report on the country's HIV/AIDS situation released in Beijing on January 25th.
Youth-friendly health centre provides treatment and education for Mozambique’s teens
ILHA DE MOÇAMBIQUE, Mozambique, 8 February 2006 – When 18-year-old Leandra thought she might be pregnant, she went to the local hospital to see a doctor. Frightened and alone, Leandra hadn’t told anyone her secret. She was ready to tell the truth in front of the doctor.
Police boost AIDS campaign in Dubai
NEW YORK, USA, 20 February, 2006 – With help from the police, UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS has taken to the streets of Dubai.
UNICEF Executive Director visits Tanzania with Executive Director of UNAIDS to spotlight impact of HIV/AIDS on children
KIGAMBONE, Tanzania, 16 February 2006 – The village of Kigamboni was decked out in bright colours to welcome HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman and UNAIDS Executive Director Dr. Peter Piot with drama and displays.
Laos: Special care for HIV-positive children
VIENTIANE, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, 16 February 2006 – It’s time for a monthly check up for 10-year-old Aling. After inspecting her vital signs, the doctor tells her the good news: Aling’s treatment appears to be holding back the HIV virus that has infected her since birth.
UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman praises Rwanda’s efforts for children in fight against HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 14 February 2006 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman has just completed an official visit to Rwanda as part of a joint mission examining the country’s response to HIV/AIDS.
Global Partners Forum pledges action on children and AIDS
LONDON, UK, 10 February 2006 – Partners in the struggle to help children affected by HIV and AIDS wrapped up a two-day meeting pledging to do more and do it better.
Children still missing from the world’s response to HIV/AIDS, Global Partners Forum told
LONDON, UK, 9 February 2006 – Twenty-five years after the first case of AIDS was discovered, children are still missing from the world’s response to the global crisis, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman told the Global Partners Forum.
Global Partners Forum seeks to build support for children affected by HIV/AIDS
LONDON, United Kingdom, 7 February 2006 – The preventable suffering of millions of children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS will be the subject of a high-level meeting in London this week.
Current Miss Universe, active in the fight against HIV/AIDS, meets with UNICEF Executive Director
NEW YORK, USA, 2 February 2006 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman today met with reigning Miss Universe Natalie Glebova at a luncheon held at United Nations headquarters. The event was hosted by H.E. Eduardo J. Sevilla Somoza, the Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to the UN. Also present were Permanent Representatives of 13 member states, and UN officials.
Malaysia: Working together to overcome HIV/AIDS
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 2 February 2006 – “Everyday I wake up and I look around me. I am on my soft bed surrounded by four beautifully painted peach walls, with a roof over my head. I look outside my window and I see trees amidst tall skyscrapers and beautiful parks, with children playing on the swings and see-saws in their adorable childlike ways.
Oman: Scouts and Guides learn about the dangers of HIV/AIDS
MUSCAT, Oman, 25 January 2006 – The Sultanate of Oman is using its National Organization of Scouts and Guides as a vehicle to help raise awareness of HIV among its young people.
UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Alessio Boni visits HIV/AIDS projects in Mozambique
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 25 January 2006 – On his first international mission as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, Italian actor Alessio Boni visited Mozambique to witness the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on children and left the country a changed man.
AIDS campaign gathers momentum in China
BEIJING, China, 20 January 2006 – The UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign is gathering momentum in China with key messages broadcast on nationwide television and the internet reaching millions of young people.
Lesotho: Road show provides entertainment and HIV/AIDS education
QACHAS NECK, Lesotho, 18 January 2005 – It is rush hour on the Senqu River. A line of children snake down the mountainside and bundle into the metal rowing boat that will take them across the river. The boat slides with the rushing current and the young children pile out on the other side. They might have come here for fun – but they’ll end up leaving with knowledge that could help save their lives.
Friends Foundation: Prevention and support for mothers and children affected by HIV/AIDS
PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea, 16 January 2006 – The HIV/AIDS epidemic in this country is taking a growing toll on children: Around 11,000 Papuan children are currently living with HIV (source: UNICEF Papua New Guinea office). One dedicated social worker is mobilizing support to help mothers and children affected by the disease.
Conference explores ways to scale up paediatric care for children affected by HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 13 January 2006 – In 2005, AIDS-related illnesses killed more than half a million children worldwide, and nearly 700,000 children were newly infected with HIV, according to health experts attending a three-day consultation on HIV treatment for children. Organized by UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), the conference is looking at ways to expand the availability of treatment, care and support for children affected by HIV/AIDS.
UNICEF-FIFA project uses football to educate young people about HIV/AIDS
DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti, 13 January 2006 – UNICEF and FIFA are teaming up to use football to help protect young people in Djibouti against HIV/AIDS. The UNICEF-FIFA project organizes leagues to give young participants a chance to compete and to learn.
A brave young girl living with AIDS in Thailand tells her story
CHIANG RAI, Thailand, 11 January 2006 – “I have been ill for about a year. I feel breathless and I cough. I went to the local hospital and the doctor said I had an opportunistic infection. I went with my mother because she was still living then. They did some tests, but I didn’t know what was going on. The doctor didn’t know either, so I went to Chiang Mai Hospital. There they told my mother I had HIV. I knew that HIV meant AIDS and it made you weak.
South Korea launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
SEOUL, South Korea, 6 January, 2006 – The Seoul Hilton Hotel played host to some 700 distinguished guests, including government officials and UNICEF goodwill ambassadors, for the launch of the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in South Korea.
Benin launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
COTONOU, Benin, 4 January 2006 – More than a thousand people, including students, government officials and UNICEF staff, were present at the French Cultural Centre of Cotonou to kick off the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in Benin.
Djibouti: Information is key to stopping the spread of AIDS
DJIBOUTI, Djibouti, 23 December, 2005 – The highway connecting Djibouti and Ethiopia is one of the busiest in the Horn of Africa. It is also one of the most dangerous places for contracting HIV. Each day as they wait for their shipments at the Djibouti port, hundreds of truck drivers stop their rigs near the poor communities that surround the port. During this down time many drivers pay women from the nearby neighbourhoods to have sex.
Zimbabwe: Home based care workers offer comfort and support
CHITUNGWIZA, Zimbabwe, 19 December 2005 - Pauros is one of millions of people living with HIV in Zimbabwe who goes without antiretroviral drugs. Instead, he finds solace, if not health, in one of UNICEF supported home based care workers, Loveness.
Papua New Guinea: Using the performing arts to deliver a lifesaving message to children
KAINANTU, Papua New Guinea, 19 December 2005 - For many of the children at Kainantu Primary School in Papua New Guinea’s isolated Eastern Highlands, the arrival of a team of youth outreach volunteers is a welcome distraction from school work.
Philippines launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
MAKATI CITY, Philippines, 15 December 2005 – UNICEF Representative Nicholas K. Alipui formally declared the launch of the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in the Philippines during the 2005 MTV Staying Alive Music Summit for HIV/AIDS.
UNICEF UK Ambassador Ewan McGregor calls for urgent action for children affected by HIV/AIDS in Malawi
LONDON, UK, 15 December, 2005 – Actor Ewan McGregor returned from Malawi this week following his first trip to the field as a UNICEF Ambassador. The five-day trip was an opportunity to see first hand how children are paying a disproportionately high price in the HIV/AIDS pandemic – and what still needs to be done to reach the thousands who are orphaned or living with HIV/AIDS.
Djibouti: Centre for HIV-positive women offers new hope
DJIBOUTI, Djibouti, 15 December 2005 – Sandwiched between buildings in a poor neighborhood of Djibouti city is a new association for women who are HIV-positive. It's called ‘New Hope’ and was started by a woman we'll call Aisha Halim, who is HIV-positive. The programme now helps about 100 HIV-positive women. The government has supplied her with a building – and now she's turned to UNICEF to ask for technical and material support.
Thailand: HIV-positive children battle fear and discrimination
CHIANG RAI, Thailand 14 December 2005 – Irene is 15 and beautiful. Everyone in her village knows she is, because she won last year’s annual beauty contest. What they don’t know is that she is also HIV-positive.
Sudan: Keeping HIV/AIDS in check
Paula Claycomb, UNICEF’s Communication Officer in Sudan, talks about how UNICEF and its partners are putting the focus on young people in order to prevent HIV/AIDS from spreading in the region.
Gambia launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
BANJUL, Gambia, 9 December, 2005 – Over 200 people, including the President of Gambia, members of the cabinet, the diplomatic community, and heads of government departments joined UNICEF, UNAIDS and other partners to launch the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign on 30 November.
Calling attention to the impact of HIV/AIDS on the African family at the 14th ICASA Conference
ABUJA, Nigeria, 8 December 2005 – “We are living daily with death staring us in our eyes.” With these words Elisha Cliff Ishaku, who has been living with HIV for six years, brought a chilling twist of reality to ICASA, the 14th International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa – and Africa’s leading forum for discussion about HIV/AIDS issues.
Film star Sharmila Tagore inducted as Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF India
NEW DELHI, India, 8 December 2005 – Sharmila Tagore, one of India’s best-known and well-loved film stars, has signed on as a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF India in a move to help the fight against HIV/AIDS in the country.
Oman launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
MUSCAT, Oman, 1 December 2005 - UNICEF Oman and its partners launched the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign on World AIDS Day. The launch in Oman placed special emphasis on the importance of protecting children, including young people infected or affected by the virus.
France launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
In tandem with the global launch of the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign at United Nations headquarters on 25 October, the French National Committee launched their own nationwide effort in Paris the same day.
A shining example, a stark warning – A special World AIDS Day report on the impact of HIV/AIDS in Botswana
GABORONE, Botswana, 1 December 2005 – They’re hardly seen under their breathing masks, the only sound is the hissing of the respiratory machine as their little chests heave in a desperate effort simply to breathe . . . this is the face of AIDS at Botswana’s Princess Marina’s hospital in the capital Gaborone.
Rwanda launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
KIGALI, Rwanda, 5 December 2005 - The First Family of Rwanda – His Excellency the President Paul Kagame and the First Lady Madame Jeannette Kagame – is also considered the first family in the fight against HIV/AIDS. That’s why the President and the First Lady jointly launched the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in Rwanda.
Finding the best way to care for children orphaned by AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 6 December 2005 – The tiny southern African nation of Swaziland has been hit hard by the AIDS pandemic. Of the country’s population of one million, there are more than 200,000 people living with HIV. And the number of children orphaned by the disease now exceeds 70,000.
Youth demand a voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS
ABUJA, Nigeria, 5 December 2005 – Medard came from Benin to the 14th International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) with high hopes.
Djibouti launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
DJIBOUTI, Djibouti, 5 December 2005 – At the launch of the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in Djibouti, President H.E Ismael Omar Guelleh stressed the fact that his country is the hardest-hit in the Arab World, with an HIV prevalence rate of 3 per cent among the general population and 6 per cent among those aged 24 to 34.
Angola launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
LUANDA, Angola, 5 DECEMBER 2005 – The Angolan Government, UNICEF and other partners celebrated the launch of the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign with a festival of youth theatre and music. The festival was attended by an estimated 9,000 students, as well as by senior representatives from government, NGOs, the UN and the donor community.
Tackling the risks of childbirth for HIV-positive women in southern Sudan
RUMBEK, Sudan, 5 December 2005 – “What’s done, is done,” whispers Grace* as she rests in the shade, but the searching look she gives her husband, Oliver*, and the little mound of dirt behind her, betray the fact that her grief is still fresh.
Mother-to-child HIV transmission can be reduced by over 90 per cent
ABUJA, Nigeria, 5 December 2005 – UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Rima Salah joined a panel of representatives from governments, civil society and other UN agencies in Abuja ahead of this week’s 14th International Conference on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA). The group called for programmes which help prevent transmission of HIV between mother and child to be made more accessible.
Iran launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
TEHRAN, Iran, 5 December 2005 – Past and present football stars joined TV celebrities to kick off the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in Iran last week at a special World AIDS Day match.
Côte d'Ivoire: HIV/AIDS - Testing for a safer tomorrow
ABIDJAN, Côte d'Ivoire, 5 December 2005 – Marina, a 19-year-old college student, bursts into tears when she is told the result of her HIV test, her hands covering her face. But these are tears of joy and relief – she has tested negative.
Sudan launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
KHARTOUM, Sudan, 1 December 2005 – Over 1,200 Boy Scouts, Girl Guides, government authorities and UNICEF officials came together at Khartoum’s Friendship Hall this morning to launch the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign. Simultaneous activities took place in Kassala in the east, Juba in the south and other towns throughout the country.
World AIDS Day: A global day of action
NEW YORK, USA, 1 December 2005 – UNICEF marked World AIDS Day by making it a truly global day of action and awareness in the fight against HIV and AIDS. Activities surrounding the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign took place in several countries in the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe, while in New York, six more of UNICEF’s most well known Goodwill Ambassadors added their support to the AIDS campaign through a series of special television messages.
Uganda launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
KAMPALA, Uganda, 29 November 2005 – In an effort to galvanise action for children and women affected by AIDS, UNICEF joined the Government of Uganda, UNAIDS and other partners for the national launch of UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS. The campaign was inaugurated by Minister of Health Jim Muhwezi.
Top stars UNITE for children against AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 1 December 2005 – The UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign received a tremendous boost today – World AIDS Day – as six new major celebrities lent their support to the global initiative.
Newsweek magazine features young woman’s moving essay about her struggle to educate others about HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 22 November 2005 - A young woman’s struggle to educate the world about the dangers of HIV/AIDS has been given a boost today by Newsweek magazine, which is featuring her essay in its “My Turn” column in this week’s issue.
Brazil launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
BRASILIA, Brazil, 22 November 2005 – At the launch of the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS Campaign today in Brazil, the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and other partners made several important commitments to helping children and adolescents in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Youth in Tajikistan educate peers on HIV and AIDS prevention
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, 17 November 2005 – Once unknown among Tajikistan’s predominantly Muslim population, HIV/AIDS is spreading with increasing speed across this mountainous country. One of the main contributing factors is the mobility of much of the working population.
Oman: Sisters live with HIV for 20 years
MUSCAT, Oman, 14 November 2005 – It is 1984. Two sisters live with their family a few hours drive into the remote mountains west of the city of Muscat. The eldest sister is just five years old when her mother dies of an unknown cause. Shortly after, the girls are tested for a virus their family and most Omani doctors have yet to hear of: HIV. They both test positive.
UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS launches in Latin America and the Caribbean
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, 11 November 2005 – The UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in the Latin American and Caribbean region was launched here today. The campaign seeks to focus attention on the devastating impact of AIDS on children and young people in the region.
Peru: Education is key to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS
CUSCO, Peru, 10 November 2005 – The vast majority of people infected with HIV/AIDS in Peru are young adults – most of whom have no idea they are carrying the virus. The most common route of transmission is through sexual contact, but taboos surrounding the subject have hindered attempts to raise awareness.
Nigeria launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
ABUJA, Nigeria, 9 November 2005 – UNICEF, UN Agencies and government partners jointly launched the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in Nigeria, at an event held here yesterday. In addition to the various official representatives, more than 60 members of the national and international press attended.
Young hip-hop artist raps for children and against AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 9 November 2005 – At first glance 18-year-old MAGZ appears to be just like any other up-and-coming young artist on the hip-hop music scene. But his latest song – ‘People Are You Listening?’ – has a serious message for the world’s children, which he delivers via the power of music, in an initiative with UNICEF.
Community group helps Kenyan orphans affected by HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 9 November 2005 – Eleven-year-old Florence Kangai is one of over 3,000 children in the Kenyan town of Isiolo who have been orphaned by AIDS. Like many in this town, she needs anti-retroviral drugs to stay alive. But poor nutrition leaves her vulnerable to infections and illnesses.
Sudan: Roads help the movement of trade goods – and of HIV/AIDS
AL FASHER, Sudan, 8 November 2005 – In Africa it is often necessary for workers to travel from place to place, whether inside their home country or across its borders. The mobility of large groups of people unfortunately contributes to the spread of the AIDS virus, and Sudan is no exception.
Mozambique launches UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 7 November 2005 – Some 10,000 children joined the First Lady of Mozambique, Maria da Luz Dai Guebuza, in kicking off the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign in Mozambique. President Armando Guebuza and members of the cabinet also attended the colourful launch ceremony in Independence Square in the heart of Maputo.
Malawi: Poverty afflicts children orphaned by AIDS
BLANTYRE, Malawi, 2 November 2005 – In the shanty slums of Ndirande Township in Blantyre City, living conditions are hard. Brenda Phiri, 22, lives here. She lost both her parents to HIV/AIDS. This has plunged her family – now consisting only of herself and five other children – into abject poverty.
Sri Lanka: HIV/AIDS education for high-risk youth
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, 3 November 2005 - The teenagers, mostly boys, sat in a circle on the floor, taking turns writing the names of parts of the body on the anatomical drawing of the female figure before them. As each new word was added, there were giggles from some and teasing from others. This type of session is called ‘body mapping’ and is a useful technique in HIV/AIDS awareness workshops.
Ukraine: HIV-positive youth counsellor says children need AIDS information from real people
CHERKASSY, Ukraine, 3 November 2005 – “HIV completely changed my life. The life of an HIV-positive person is extremely difficult in my country. And children are the most affected.
Namibia: HIV/AIDS – A young person fights back
Livey Van Wyk, 20, is from Windhoek in Namibia. She has been living with HIV since the age of 16. The birth of her son inspired Livey to seek counselling and support and to speak out about her HIV status. Now Livey has trained to be a peer educator and works with young people. She explained to UNICEF that her goal is to reduce the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and to warn others about the dangers. This is her story.
India: Young volunteer fights stigma to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS
Raguwaran is 17 and lives in a village in India’s Tamil Nadu state. Ten years ago his father died of AIDS. His mother is HIV-positive. Having faced stigma and discrimination as a result, Raguwaran became motivated to help others.
Winning design unveiled for international advertising competition on children and AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 27 October 2005 – The winning poster design of an international advertising competition to promote UNICEF’s global campaign UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS was unveiled today in a ceremony at UNICEF headquarters.
Remarks of the First Lady of Rwanda, Her Excellency Jeannette Kagame, at launch of UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS
The First Lady of Rwanda, Her Excellency Jeannette Kagame took part in the launch of the global campaign UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS. She addressed the audience both as an African mother and a member of the Organisation of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS.
UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS: A day of action
NEW YORK, USA, 25 October 2005 – UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS is a campaign that aims to put children and their needs at the forefront of the global fight against the disease – beginning with events on the day of launch.
UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS: Global Campaign is launched at UN Headquarters
NEW YORK, USA, 25 October 2005 – United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman and UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot today officially launched the global campaign UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS.
DR Congo: Volunteers help children orphaned by HIV/AIDS
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of Congo, 24 October 2005 – Only now emerging from a long history of war, the Democratic Republic of Congo is facing a future where poverty and disease, especially HIV/AIDS, will be the enemies and soldiers of a different kind will be needed for the battle.
UNICEF to launch global campaign on children and AIDS
NEW YORK, 21 October 2005 – A campaign launching next week at the United Nations will alert the world to the fact that children are missing from the global AIDS agenda.
Sudan: Students and teachers learn about HIV/AIDS prevention
KADUGLI, Sudan, 21 October, 2005 – With more than 2 million children living with the HIV virus today, UNICEF and its partners are working hard to give the children of Sudan facts about AIDS.
Pakistani pop band brings HIV/AIDS prevention message to children
NEW YORK, 20 October 2005 – HIV/AIDS is a growing problem in Pakistan, where many cases go unreported because of the stigma attached to the disease. Educating the country’s 75 million children and breaking the silence is key to stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS.
New HIV/AIDS counselling and testing centres open in Egypt
CAIRO, 18 October 2005 - To most Egyptians, AIDS is a problem for other people to worry about. The disease has already claimed millions of lives worldwide, but – on the surface at least – its impact in Egypt has been minimal.
Indonesia: Empowering youth to fight HIV/AIDS
BOGOR, Indonesia, 17 October 2005 – David Gordon spins a marker pen on the floor in front of a group of young Indonesians and asks the person the marker points to: “What’s the best way to get HIV messages to most young people in Indonesia?”
Orphaned by AIDS, young girl struggles to care for her family
17 October 2005, ZOMBA, Malawi - In the African country of Malawi, nearly half a million children have been orphaned by AIDS, with one or both of their parents having died of the disease. Chisimo Banda is one of these orphans. Both of her parents died of AIDS, and now at age 17 she is the head of the household, looking after her two younger brothers and her own infant child.
Father’s death spurs lifetime commitment to fighting AIDS
14 October 2005, PORTLAND, Jamaica – “Five years ago my father died from HIV/AIDS. At a very young age I found out that he was HIV positive. As I grew older, it got worse – his health started to deteriorate, and I was the one who had to be taking care of him.
UNICEF Ireland Goodwill Ambassador Liam Neeson travels to Mozambique
BEIRA, Mozambique, 1 September 2005 – Long-standing UNICEF Ireland Goodwill Ambassador Liam Neeson has just returned from his first field visit to Mozambique. He visited Beira, the country’s second largest city, which has the highest HIV/AIDS prevalence rate in the country.
Students in India learn life skills for preventing HIV/AIDS
MUMBAI, India, 26 August 2005 – In the classroom at Bombay Scottish School in Mumbai, the children sing with a passion and maturity, far beyond their teenage years. For they know they are enrolled on a course that might one day save their lives.
Cameroon: Peer educators help fight HIV/AIDS
DOUALA, Cameroon, 16 June 2005 - City streets and back alleys have become a battleground in the fight against AIDS in Cameroon. In a country where more than half the population is under the age of 25, young people are up against a deadly opponent. The HIV prevalence rate among people aged 15-49 years in Cameroon is 6.9 per cent, one of the highest in the region.
Cameroon: Integrated approach helps cut parent-to-child HIV transmission by half
YAOUNDE, Cameroon, 6 June 2005 – Every year, about 600,000 children around the world are infected by the HIV virus during the mother's pregnancy, during birth or through breastfeeding.
Pakistani religious leaders pledge to ‘break the silence’ around HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, 19 April 2004 – Pakistani religious leaders assembled for the First Meeting of the Inter-Religious Council of HIV/AIDS in Islamabad, Pakistan to discuss how to create a caring society free of HIV-related stigma and discrimination.
Clinton Foundation secures cheaper HIV/AIDS drugs – 10,000 children to benefit
NEW YORK, 11 April 2005 – Around 10,000 children in 10 countries will receive antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for HIV/AIDS treatment this year, following an announcement by former US President Bill Clinton at a news conference today.
India forms coalition to address the needs of children with HIV/AIDS
NEW DELHI, 5 April 2005 - India’s National Department of Women and Child Development, along with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), have announced the formation of a high-level national coalition to push for greater prioritisation of HIV/AIDS.
HIV/AIDS: A deadly crisis each day in Zimbabwe
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, 24 March 2005 – In a small corroded tin shack, 71-year-old Emma Mlavzi lives with her 10 grandchildren. Their parents, Emma’s children, are all dead – a family destroyed by AIDS.
Zimbabwe’s forgotten children
JOHANNESBURG, 17 March 2005 - As Zimbabwe prepares for national elections, UNICEF today released startling new statistics about the state of the country’s children. Since 1990, the under-five mortality rate has risen 50 per cent, and one in five Zimbabwean children are now orphans – a result of the severe HIV/AIDS crisis affecting the country.
Stars help fight stigma of HIV/AIDS in China
BEIJING, China, 5-10 March 2005 - Miriam Yeung and Daniel Chan are Goodwill Ambassadors with the Hong Kong Committee for UNICEF. Both are famous entertainers, beloved by millions of fans in Hong Kong and elsewhere in China. Ms. Yeung is a singer, while Mr. Chan is a singer and an actor. They recently went to Shanxi province, China, to visit children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Games and role-play teach Thai children about HIV/AIDS
BANGKOK, Thailand, 22 Februaury 2005 - In the shadow of the bustling port of Bangkok stands a community very different from the pagodas and department stores of Thailand’s capital. The slum of Khlong Toey is an area with a reputation as a haven for drugs and other criminal activities. Environments like this provide a breeding ground for HIV/AIDS, with more than 200,000 cases in Bangkok alone.
Giving hope to children orphaned by AIDS
HARARE, Zimbabwe, 16 February 2005 - For sixteen-year old Kristen, every day is a long one.
Kindergartens help care for abandoned babies as Russian AIDS epidemic grows
KALININGRAD, Russia / NEW YORK, 9 February 2005 - HIV/AIDS is a growing problem among young people in Russia. Fuelled by intravenous drug use, around 80 per cent of all those living with the virus are under 30, with women accounting for one in three new infections. The effects of the crisis on children are starkly illustrated at orphanages and shelters across the country.
UNICEF programme helps educate children about HIV and AIDS
YANGON, Myanmar, 31 January 2005 – A battle is raging in the classroom at Primary School Number Seven in Kyinyindine Township, on the outskirts of Myanmar’s capital city of Yangon. It’s a battle between the forces of HIV and the body’s immune system acted out by a dozen children for the benefit of their 11- to 13-year old classmates.
UK contributes millions for UNICEF HIV and AIDS programmes
NEW YORK, 16 December 2004 – UNICEF programmes for orphans and other children made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS will benefit from a 44 million pound ($85 million) contribution from the British government announced today.
Fighting AIDS on the air in Niger
NIAMEY, Niger, 30 November 2004 – Radio is the newest tool for fighting HIV and AIDS in Niger.
Violence against girls and women linked to spread of HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, 30 November 2004 - More than 37 million people are living with HIV and almost half of them are women. Some have become infected through sexual violence and exploitation. It is estimated that one in three women worldwide will be raped or abused in their lifetime.
Danny Glover and the Great Ethiopian Run
ADDIS ABABA, 28 November 2004 – Under the endless Ethiopian sky, thousands upon thousands of athletes came together to participate in Africa’s biggest road race – the Great Ethiopian Run. Meskel Square in downtown Addis Ababa came alive as the vivid colours of the participants’ t-shirts shone like a sunlit sea.
Young people discuss the prevention of HIV and AIDS through UNICEF Voices of Youth online forum
NEW YORK, 23 November 2004 - Young people from around the world have come to UNICEF’s Voice of Youth online forum to talk about how children and young people can help stop the spread of HIV and AIDS.
New Zealand jumps in to help AIDS orphans
Young People join Carol Bellamy to tell British Prime Minister about HIV/AIDS
LONDON, 20 July 2004 - UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy met British Prime Minister Tony Blair to mark the launch of the UK’s new strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world.
Kami shines at international AIDS conference
BANGKOK, 13 July 2004 – UNICEF’s “Champion for Children” Kami shared the spotlight with UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy on Tuesday at the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.
Zimbabwe AIDS orphans struggle to get back to school
HARARE, Zimbabwe 8 July 2004—Almost a million children in Zimbabwe have lost one or both parents to AIDS. Faced with extreme poverty and forced to look after themselves, it’s little wonder many have dropped out of school.
XV International AIDS Conference 11-16 July 2004
The XV International AIDS Conference, Bangkok 2004, will focus on how to advance access to science, prevention, treatment and resources for all people around the world. "Access for All," the theme of the Conference, is particularly important in this global epidemic, which affects developing and developed countries.
China's children affected by HIV/AIDS
HENAN PROVINCE, China, 11 June 2004—"Daddy died three years ago because of the disease called AIDS." Taohua (not her real name) is a skinny 11-year-old girl with a ponytail. She is shy but well spoken. "First he had headaches. Then he got very sick and went to see a doctor, but he just got sicker. My mom wanted to buy some medicine, but our family was too poor. My daddy didn’t want my mom to spend the money."