World AIDS Day
Source: Save the Children - Australia
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HIV/AIDS and Children
While many people see HIV/AIDS as an issue that mostly impacts adults, children are among the most vulnerable victims of AIDS in the developing world. The AIDS crisis is destabilising families and entire societies, and leaving millions of children without the care and support they need to survive and thrive.As parents get sick and die of AIDS, family burdens shift to children, particularly girls, who are often forced to leave school to earn money, obtain food, care for the ill and other family members. Without care and support, these children are increasingly exposed to exploitation, poverty and discrimination.Save the Children is fighting HIV/AIDS and protecting children on two fronts:
- Preventing HIV infections, especially among youth and others at high risk of infection
- Helping communities and families care for and support children affected by HIV/AIDS.
Did you know?
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Every minute of every day, on average, a child dies of HIV/AIDS
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A child loses a parent to AIDS-related causes every 14 seconds
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By 2010 an estimated 25 million children are expected to have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
Source: UNAIDS
On World AIDS Day, find out more about more about how organisations like the United Nations are working to unite the world against AIDS. Click here
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