GET THE FACTS
The “Believe it. Do it.” campaign supports the Global Plan to eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015 and ensure their mothers are healthy through pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding.
Each year about 390 000 children become newly infected with HIV in low- and middle-income countries. And as many as 42 000 women living with HIV die from complications relating to HIV and pregnancy each year.
In contrast, the number of new HIV infections among children and maternal deaths related to HIV in high-income countries is virtually zero.
Why the difference? In low- and middle-income countries, too few women receive HIV prevention and treatment services to protect themselves and their children.
In 2011, world leaders at the United Nations committed to ending new HIV infections in children and keeping their mothers alive by 2015. A bold new global plan was adopted and action is underway in all parts of the world to increase access and equity.
Quick Facts
Every day 1000 children are infected with HIV
- There are around 3.4 million children below the age of 15 years living with HIV.
- In 2010, 390,000 children under 15 years were infected with HIV. Without access to necessary care and treatment about one third of these children with HIV will die by their first birthday, 50% by the age of 2 years, and 80% by 5 years.
- In 2010, an estimated 250,000 children younger than 15 years of age died of HIV-related causes. Most of those children were under the age of five and more than 90% lived in sub-Saharan Africa.
Number of new HIV infections among children, 2009
Number of children newly infected with HIV in low- and middle-income countries, 2000–2015
