HIV / AIDS

AIDS is an impediment to development in many poor countries and drastically reducing the quality of lives. By the end of 2005, there were 40.3 million people with HIV, with 25.8 million living in Africa. About 2.3 million people with HIV are under the age of 15. In 2005, there were 700,000 new infections and 570,000 deaths among children due to lack of prevention, care and treatment. 

Success in combating HIV&AIDS must be measured by its impact on young people. They are highly affected, but they also offer the biggest hope. Each Alliance2015 member has HIV&AIDS programmes that involve young people. In Zimbabwe, for example, CESVI promotes the prevention of mother-to-child transmission. Concern works with local partners on voluntary counselling and testing in Haiti, sports and HIV&AIDS prevention in Somalia and prevention among slum dwellers and people with HIV in India. Deutsche Welthungerhilfe works with local partners on outreach programmes for girls and sex workers in Kenya, and together with Ibis on home-based care nursing and strengthening of neighbourhood support for orphans in South Africa. Hivos supports local organisations in empowering youth and people with HIV in Kenya and college students in Zimbabwe, sex workers in India and young homosexuals in Ecuador and Bolivia. In Namibia, Ibis and Hivos works with local communities in Yelula Province, where support for the youth is central.

Results from some of these programmes and strategies for scaling up were shared at the International AIDS conference inToronto in 2006. Alliance2015 set new targets in its effort to halt the spread of HIV among children and youth in the South. Increased prevention focusing on youth is easier and less costly than combating the impact of HIV&AIDS and changing risky behaviour later.