Decline in child HIV infections

South Africa showed a 63% decline in new HIV infections among children in 2012, UNAIDS has said.

"South Africa has shown tremendous progress in reducing the numbers of children and women acquiring HIV infection and in providing access to HIV treatment to both groups," UNAIDS said in a report.

"Strong political leadership and commitment has been translated into clear results for the people affected."

Compared with 2009, this meant 24 000 less children contracted the virus, according to the report on the Global Plan towards elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015. In 2012 a total of 14 000 children were infected with the virus in South Africa. In 2010, 210 000 children were eligible for HIV therapy in South Africa.

According to UNAIDS, the HIV transmission rate from mother to child (including breastfeeding) in South Africa for 2012 was 5%. It was 6% in 2011, 7% in 2010 and 14% in 2009.

The number of women acquiring HIV infection between the ages of 15 to 49 in 2012 was 150 000. In 2011 it was 200 000, in 2010 and 2009 it was 210 000. This means 28% fewer women in that age group were newly infected with HIV, according to the UNAIDS study.

Seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa - Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia - have reduced new HIV infections among children by 50% since 2009.

There were 130,000 fewer new HIV infections among children across the 21 Global Plan priority countries in Africa, a drop of 38% since 2009. "The progress in the majority of countries is a strong signal that with focused efforts every child can be born free from HIV," said Michel Sidibe, executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids (UNAIDS).

According to the report, four countries - Botswana, Ghana, Namibia and Zambia - already met their goal of providing antiretroviral medicines to 90% of the women who were eligible, to prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child.

Mozambique, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe were close behind. The number of eligible children receiving antiretroviral therapy increased in all countries. The percentage of eligible children up to age 14 receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa in 2012 was 67%.

The number of HIV-positive pregnant women receiving antiretroviral therapy for their own health in South Africa is 83%.

SA - the Good News