Pause to consider…
: In Sub Saharan Africa, 74% of all new HIV infections among adolescents are girls.
: Every year, around 380,000 adolescent girls and young women ( aged 15- 24 ) are newly infected with HIV.
: HIV and AIDS is the leading cause of death among women of reproductive age globally.
As many of you might be aware.. I’ve been an advocate and campaigner on the issue of HIV and AIDS as it affects women and children for over a decade. The good news is that after a great deal of dedicated effort, progress has been made. An estimate of 15.8 million people are now on HIV treatment – doubling the number from five years ago. The challenge we face is that the job is only half done and there’s still such a long way to go.
The reasons why so many young women and girls become infected by HIV/AIDS are varied and complex.
Much of this has to do with a lack of power in decision making on aspects of sexuality and reproductive health.
Fyi – 36.9 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2014.
Pause to consider…
