Protect African child from HIV

As we commemorated this year’s day of the African Child on June 16 (yesterday), we should focus on one of the most pressing issues that disturb the peace of children in Africa, particularly in Uganda.
According to the World Bank collection of development indicators, 2016, more than 130,000 children in Uganda are today struggling with HIV/Aids. It presents with illnesses such as tuberculosis, malnutrition and so much more, compared to our counterparts in Europe, US, Asia. Our situation is alarming.

The 2017 UNAIDS report indicates that globally, there were 2.1 million children living with HIV, registering 120,000 Aids-related deaths, and 160,000 new infections among children in 2016. Of these, Uganda gets way with more than 4,600 new infections, thus the 47 per cent increment of children living with HIV.

Similarly, the 2016 Unicef Seventh Stocktaking report showed that every day, about 400 children become infected with HIV/Aids worldwide, Uganda included. According to UNAIDS 2017, only 43 per cent of children living with HIV received Anti-Retroviral Treatment in 2016. The reason is, HIV/Aids affects children in many ways and it makes them prone to stigma and discrimination among their peers, in their homes and community. It also leads to low self-esteem, poor performance in schools, stunted growth, and insecurity.

Children contract HIV/Aids from their mothers mainly at birth. In the African setting, more so in Uganda, we still have expectant mothers refusing to attend antenatal care in health facilities and instead go to traditional birth attendants (TBAs), who lack experience in handling HIV preventive child births, antenatal and post natal care and as a result, pregnant women end up producing HIV/Aids positive babies. Research has showed that the continued existence of TBAs in Uganda, is one of the factors responsible for increased HIV/Aids in children despite the country adopting the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission strategy in September 2012.

In order to end HIV/Aids among children, we should work together and end the violation of children’s rights. We should report cases of defilement, torture, irresponsible parenthood, end wars as well as encouraging expectant mothers living with HIV/Aids to seek treatment so as to avoid passing on HIV to children in Africa.
There are also stigma and discrimination challenge to which children living with HIV, particularly in schools, are subjected to. This should stop. Parents and caretakers should be willing to disclose their children’s HIV status to the school administration to enable the children to get help.
Annet Nakibuuka,
[email protected].