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Unicef says HIV-free generation achievable

1 December 2010

A generation of babies could be born free of Aids if the international community stepped up efforts to provide universal access to HIV prevention, treatment and social protection, the United Nations said yesterday.

While children have benefited from substantial progress made in the fight against Aids, it said, more must be done to ensure all women and children get access to the medicines and health services designed to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission.

Aids is still one of the leading causes of death worldwide among women of reproductive age and a major cause of maternal death in countries with Aids pandemics. In sub-Saharan Africa, 9% of maternal deaths are attributable to HIV and Aids, Unicef said.

Babies are particularly vulnerable to the effects of HIV and without treatment about half of infants infected with HIV die before their second birthday.

Unicef said that while the availability of early infant diagnosis services has increased dramatically in many countries, global coverage still remains low, at only 6% in 2009.

In a separate statement before world AIDS day on December 1, the UNAids director Michel Sidibe said: “Nothing gives me more hope than knowing that an Aids-free generation is possible in our lifetime.”

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