The number of new HIV infections among children is more than eight times the global target. Two fifths of all children born with HIV go undiagnosed and half are not treated. And while children represent only 5% of people living with HIV, they account for 15% of AIDS-related deaths. These and other grim statistics in the UNAIDS 2022 Global Update put in stark relief just how far behind the targets we are. The Coalition has launched a new report that identifies how much is spent on children and adolescents affected by HIV and what action we can all take to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and end AIDS. Read the report here.
Adolescent mothers affected by HIV and their children need holistic support, addressing their biomedical, social and economic needs together, and delivered in and by communities, families and adolescents themselves. Understanding the unique challenges in reaching this particularly vulnerable population — as well as the urgency required to do so — is essential. The Coalition is working to facilitate this understanding and has commissioned a consultation with young mothers in Uganda facilitated by UNYPA, a consultation with young sex worker mothers in South Africa facilitated by SWEAT Mothers for the Future and a consultation with young mothers across Sub Saharan Africa facilitated by Y+ Global to help address these challenges and facilitate understanding.
COVID-19 is having catastrophic and lasting consequences for millions of children, adolescents and caregivers affected by HIV and AIDS. The stigma, co-morbidities and socio-economic vulnerabilities associated with HIV and AIDS, leave them especially vulnerable to the new pandemic and its impacts. Lock downs have curtailed livelihoods and the support they rely on in order to survive and thrive. We have published a new Policy Briefing calling for action now to prevent those already made vulnerable by HIV and AIDS from being further impacted; and so as not lose precious gains made against HIV. Read the COVID-19 Policy Briefing now.
An AIDS 2020 satellite session, co-hosted by the Coalition and ViiV Healthcare Positive Action, was intended to further a shared vision and action plan and forge connections with a like-minded community of practice. We invite you to watch the session, in its entirety here.
This learning session, co-hosted by WHO and the Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS, brought together 43 global thought leaders from the HIV, sexual and reproductive health, early childhood development, poverty reduction, rights, gender, exclusion and mental health sectors to develop an evidence-informed advocacy agenda for adolescent mothers affected by HIV and their children. The learning session was accompanied by a comprehensive evidence review (1); a video of young mothers from across Africa (2); and an advocacy briefing (3) on what needs to change to deliver an effective integrated approach for children and adolescents. This document is a full report from the learning session.
On December 2019, the Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS and the World Health Organization co-hosted a learning session to develop an evidence-informed advocacy agenda on adolescent mothers affected by HIV and their children. This document sets out just the draft advocacy messages and recommendations for donors, governments, and civil society, which were prioritised by participants of the Learning Session. This is a ‘live’ document and has been put out for further consultation with adolescent mothers affected by HIV and the communities of practice that work alongside them.
The Coalition for Children Affected by AIDS (the Coalition), in partnership with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) and World Health Organization (WHO), hosted a webinar focused on the unique challenges in reaching adolescent mothers affected by HIV. The slides are available here. A recording of the webinar is available here.
At ICASA in December 2019, Dr. Elona Toska presented on the experiences of adolescent mothers affected by HIV, sharing data from two studies in South Africa.
At the Coalition’s Learning Session in December 2019, Dr. V. Chandra-Mouli presented on the maternal health service utilization of adolescent women in sub-Saharan Africa.
At the Coalition’s Learning Session in December 2019, Dr. Chewe Luo and Laurie A. Gulaid of UNICEF presented on the evidence, interventions and gaps presented on the evidence, interventions and gaps in efforts to reach adolescent mothers affected by HIV and their children.
In a recent presentation, Coalition Member, Professor Lorraine Sherr, addresses the complex experiences of HIV positive and HIV-exposed but uninfected adolescents and their young children.
We are failing in our global ambitions to tackle HIV and AIDS and their impacts on children and adolescents. Integrated approaches – those that combine biomedical, social and economic support – are proven to be the most effective way of enabling HIV-affected children and adolescents to survive and thrive. This briefing identifies what action donors, policy makers, implementers and advocates must take in order to deliver an integrated approach to children and adolescents.
This background note outlines the current evidence on the experiences of young mothers affected by HIV and their children, the impact this has on how well they do across HIV-specific and SDG-related indicators, and solutions that may deliver improvements across several HIV and SDG targets simultaneously.