The first year's report of the campaign, named Unite for Children Unite Against AIDS, found that the initiative has gained strength in the fight, but much more still needs to be done.
The program was launched on October 25, 2005 by UNICEF, UNAIDS and other partners at the United Nations in New York with initial funding for five years.
Infants are still being infected at birth, because many HIV-infected pregnant women have not yet received the antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) needed to prevent the transmission from mother to infant.
The annual report released on January 16 indicates that although preventing HIV transmissions from mothers to their children have increased with ARV treatment for the mothers, the percentage is still low. Globally, a six percent increase took place within two years from 2003 to 2005, according to UNICEF's report. However, the percentage increased reports for Nambia and South Africa were much better overall.
More treatments have also been provided to children living with HIV, but there is still a widespread AIDS pandemic. Only 1 in 10 children around the world who need ARV treatment are receiving it.
Executive Director Ann M. Veneman for UNICEF said, "There is an urgent need to help children impacted by HIV/AIDS."
Veneman added, "Unite For Children Unite Against Aids is focused on ensuring treatment for HIV-positive children, prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and assisting children who have been orphaned by AIDS. We must build momentum to achieve positive results for children."
According to the AP, a UN report states that although progress has been made worldwide to prevent the transmission of HIV to babies, there were more than 1,000 children every day in 2006 who were infected with the disease.
Early diagnosis and affordable treatments must be provided to prevent the continual spread of HIV and AIDS. The epidemic causes the annual death of 2.9 million people in the world. This number includes approximately 380,000 children under age 15 who were infected with HIV in 2005, according to UNICEF's report.
The UNICEF organization is run solely by voluntary contributions and has been the world's leader for children for the past 60 years. They have been working to provide help to children through adolescence with basic survival needs, now in 156 countries and territories around the world.
The UNICEF program provides health and nutrition, basic education, and protection from violence, exploitation and AIDS. According to UNICEF, the organization is the world's largest provider of vaccinations for developing countries.
