The Issue

The Issue

The Challenges

The Challenges

UNICEF in action

UNICEF in action

Resources on HIV/AIDS

Resources on HIV/AIDS

 

UNICEF in action

© UNICEF/SWZK00237/Pirozzi

Advice session on HIV/AIDS at a youth-friendly centre in Moldova

FIGHTING HIV/AIDS

Children and young people are at the heart of the fight against HIV/AIDS. They are the solution – not the problem – and their participation in programmes is crucial. We work with young people to help governments and communities tackle the gravest health crisis facing them today. We aim to ensure that by 2010 at least 95% of those aged 10-18 have access to the information, education and services they need to protect themselves against HIV. We provide information, but realise that this is not enough to change behaviour.  So we support life-skills based education to give young people skills such as critical thinking that can protect them against infection. We support youth-friendly services, including access to voluntary counselling and testing. We focus on the young people at greatest risk who have least access to services. And we work with young people on the design and management of programmes.

We aim to contribute to the elimination of infant HIV in the region by 2010. We support programmes for the children and young people most directly affected by HIV/AIDS to ensure that they have access to quality care. And we advocate for policies that protect them from stigma and discrimination.

Promoting Youth Friendly health services (YFS). UNICEF has mapped out services for young people in 17 countries in collaboration with the UN Interagency Group on Youth Friendly Services. We urge governments to act on the findings of these Mapping Reports and increase access to YFS, particularly for the most vulnerable young people.

Training health care providers in Ukraine. UNICEF works with the Government on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). The percentage of HIV+ pregnant women reached with preventive measures, such as antiretrovirals, has risen from 9% to 77% since 1999. UNICEF has helped to develop the national programme and training course for health care providers and works with the Government on an action plan for virtual elimination of mother to child transmission.

A regional strategy on HIV/AIDS. Our regional HIV/AIDS strategy centres on three key areas: prevention of infection among young people; prevention of mother to child transmission, and care, support and protection for children and parents living with HIV. The strategy aims to move the region towards the goal for 2005: to ensure that at least 90% of those aged 10-18 have access to the information, education and services necessary to develop the life skills required to reduce their vulnerability to HIV infection. UNICEF works with governments, civil society and other partners to ensure that each country has a comprehensive national HIV/AIDS response,  clearly defining the crucial role to be played by all partners, including civil society and young people, in HIV prevention.