Thanks to remarkable global commitment, the world has seen a 24 per cent reduction in new HIV infections in children – from 430,000 in 2009 to 330,000 in 2011. And, as of December 2011, over 100,000 more children globally were receiving antiretroviral treatment compared to 2010. But less than one-third of children and pregnant women are receiving the treatment they need, as opposed to the global average of 54 per cent for adults overall.

“It is simply wrong that adults are twice as likely as children to receive the treatment they need,” said UNICEF Executive Director Anthony Lake. “By definition, an AIDS-free generation depends on protecting the youngest and most vulnerable from HIV infection. We must do still more to help mothers and children who live with HIV be able to live free from AIDS. We must rededicate ourselves to boosting the number of pregnant women and children being tested and treated through basic antenatal and child health programmes.”

Treating HIV-positive pregnant women not only keeps them alive and well, but prevents babies from acquiring HIV during pregnancy, delivery and the breastfeeding period. Treatment can also prevent sexual transmission from an HIV-positive woman to an HIV-negative partner.

Working to end new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive is a key element of UNICEF’s overall commitment to child survival under the global movement, “A Promise Renewed.”

“Children should be born HIV free and remain HIV free from birth through adolescence to adulthood. We need to strengthen our response to HIV/AIDS and design programmes that address the needs of the whole child with regard to health, nutrition, education and protection throughout his or her lifecycle,” said Jean-Michel Delmotte, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan. “We also need to ensure that children, adolescents and young people affected by HIV are not left behind and have equitable access to adequate social protection and support services,” he added.

In Uzbekistan, UNICEF is working with the Government to ensure that HIV prevention, treatment, care and support is integrated into general health services. UNICEF is supporting the inclusion of prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission as a key component of ante-natal care through voluntary and confidential testing (VCT) to make pregnancy and delivery safer. Support is also provided to developing national protocols to provide better care for expecting mothers who are HIV positive. UNICEF is also helping to increase access of HIV-affected children to treatment, care and support through enhancing capacities of pediatric AIDS services and Day Care Centres that were established in six regions.