Alarming figures: 96,000 girls worldwide infected with HIV!

Alarming figures: 96,000 girls worldwide infected with HIV!

According to UNICEF, there is an alarming increase in new HIV infections among girls and young women. A recent report by the UN Children's Fund revealed that in 2023, around 96,000 girls between the ages of 15 and 19 were infected with HIV, while only 41,000 boys in the same age group were affected. This shows that seven out of ten newly infected people were women. The data from countries south of the Sahara are particularly worrying, where nine out of ten new infections in this age group were recorded in girls. Access to vital treatment remains severely limited for minors compared to adults. UNICEF found that 77 percent of adults infected with HIV have access to treatment, while only 57 percent of children under 14 years of age and 65 percent of young people between the ages of 15 and 19 have access to treatment Volksblatt reported.

HIV and AIDS in a global context

The global situation regarding HIV is also critical. Although the total number of AIDS deaths last year was 630,000, the lowest number since 2004, the global community remains far from meeting the UN's goal of eliminating HIV and AIDS as a health threat by 2030. There has recently been an increase in new infections, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East. This leaves 9.3 million people in the world currently untreated, while the pandemic continues to disproportionately affect children and young people under the age of 14, the UNICEF report shows.

Another central topic in the current discussion is the future of children in a rapidly changing world. The report “On the situation of children in the world” shows that megatrends such as demographic change, the climate and environmental crisis and technological developments will have a significant impact on the living conditions of children. Children and young people in low-income countries are particularly at risk, as they often do not have access to resources that could protect them from the effects of the climate crisis. Loud UNICEF Impending climate extremes such as heatwaves, floods and wildfires threaten the quality of life and educational opportunities of millions of children worldwide, underscoring the urgency of action to combat climate and inequalities.