HIV hitting young at rate of one every 14 seconds

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HIV hitting young at rate of one every 14 seconds

http://www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,7369,1059035,00.html

Owen Bowcott

Thursday October 9, 2003

The Guardian

 

The spread of Aids among adolescents may significantly slow the growth of

the world's population, a United Nations report warned yesterday.

About 6,000 youngsters become infected with the HIV virus every day, the

equivalent of one every 14 seconds, according to the UN Population Fund

(UNFPA). The majority are female.

 

The world's population, currently 6.3 billion, is projected to rise to 8.9

billion by 2050. If Aids-related deaths in Africa, Asia and Latin America

are not checked, that figure will be cut to about 7 billion.

 

The difficulty in estimating future population growth is complicated by the

fact that half of all Aids infections occur among those aged between 15 and

24, the next generation of parents.

 

There are around 1.2 billion adolescents, defined as those aged between 10

and 19, the UNFPA's annual report said. Nearly half of the world's total

population is under 25.

 

The report said: " HIV/Aids has become a disease of young people, with young

adults aged 15 to 24 accounting for half of the some 5 million new cases of

HIV infection worldwide each year.

 

" Yet young people often lack the information, skills and services they need

to protect themselves from HIV infection. Providing these is crucial to

turning back the epidemic. "

 

About 36 million people are currently living with HIV/Aids infections and by

2050 the disease is expected to have claimed as many as 278 million lives.

 

By 2010, it is anticipated there will be 25 million Aids orphans. The report

found that 44 of the 107 countries surveyed did not include Aids education

in their schools.

 

Longer-term projections suggested the world's population would begin to fall

after 2050. There was a trend towards later marriages in many countries, a

change welcomed by the agency.

 

But it was not universal. " [Around] 82 million girls in developing countries

who are now aged 10 to 17 will be married before their 18th birthday, " the

report said. " In some countries, the majority of girls still marry before

age 18. These include 60% in Nepal, 76% in Niger and 50% in India. "

 

Launching the report, Thoraya Obaid, the executive director of UNFPA, said:

" This report is a wake-up call for governments to increase funding and

expand information and services to young people. If we do not provide the

investment this will be a global catastrophe. "

 

The report urged governments to do more to meet the development goals set at

the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994.

 

Special reports

Aids

Medicine and health

 

Special investigation

February 2003: Saving Grace - why 30m people with Aids can't get the drugs

they need

 

Full text

UN Aids report, November 2002

UN report into Aids, July 2002

 

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Vatican: condoms don't stop Aids

 

 

Is Anglo Coal's approach the way to save South Africa?

 

 

Aids becoming 'a young person's disease'

 

 

HIV breakthrough lifts tech group

 

 

Call for 'dishonest' Mbeki to apologise for Aids gaffe

 

 

Condom supply to Africa hit by US abortion policy

 

 

UN envoy berates west for funding war on terror but ignoring Aids pandemic

 

 

Insurers issue new rules on gays

 

 

Diageo makes HIV pledge to staff

 

 

Aids link throws spotlight on Acambis vaccine

 

 

Deal reached over cheap drugs for poor nations

 

 

Drugs deal 'not viable'

 

 

US ends funds for African Aids programme

 

 

HIV victims die as drugs firms nurse own interests