USAID Efforts to Address the Needs of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS [.pdf file, 610k] USAID Efforts to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS [.pdf file, 660k] Children on the Brink 2000[.pdf file, 1,927k] To view PDF files, download the Adobe Acrobat Reader. Tuesday, 08-May-2001 15:12:19 EDT

HIV/AIDS is generating a serious humanitarian crisis in many regions of the world, threatening the public health and well-being of entire societies while rolling back decades of progress in economic and social development. Among those most affected by the disease are children orphaned or otherwise burdened by its devastating toll. At the end of 1999, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimated that 13.2 million children under age 15 world-wide had lost their mother or both parents as a result of AIDS; 90 percent of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa.

USAID projects that 44 million children in 34 countries hardest hit by HIV/AIDS will have lost one or both parents from all causes, but primarily from AIDS, by 2010.

Although these numbers are staggering, they represent only a portion of children who are affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide. Millions more are living with parents who are ill, often becoming the primary caregivers for their parents, younger siblings, and others.

USAID recently issued two reports to Congress concerning this global pandemic -- especially its impact upon children. Problems begin for children in HIV/AIDS-affected households long before a parent dies of the disease. These reports document the tragic effect on children in HIV/AIDS-affected households and provide details on USAID's comprehensive programs that provide care and protection to children affected by HIV/AIDS.

USAID Efforts to Address the Needs of Children Affected by HIV/AIDS

This document responds to a Congressional request for USAID to report on actions taken to expand access to food and education specifically for children affected by HIV/AIDS. While improving access to food and education is an important goal of many USAID initiatives targeting orphans and vulnerable children, this access must be part of a holistic approach to address the needs of this population, including support for and strengthening of entire communities to better care for these most vulnerable children. USAID uses several sources of funding to support comprehensive programs that provide care and protection to children affected by HIV/AIDS. These include child survival funds, HIV/AIDS funds for orphans and vulnerable children, Title II Food for Peace funds, and basic education funds.

USAID Efforts to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS

One of the tragic consequences of the HIV/AIDS epidemic is mother-to-child transmission of HIV. This can occur during pregnancy and delivery, or after birth through breast-feeding, and is estimated to have already resulted in the AIDS-related deaths of more than 4 million children worldwide.

Clearly, the best way to prevent mother-to-child transmission is to prevent the initial transmission of HIV/AIDS to the mother. However, for women already infected with HIV, steps can be taken to reduce the likelihood of transmission from mother to infant. Since 1998, USAID has made real advances in determining the best methods to approach the complex problem of preventing mother-to-child transmission in the developing world. This report outlines some of the strategies which USAID has employed.

Children on the Brink 2000