Take Action to Help Children Living with HIV
12. January 2009
- Send this action alert to your networks, colleagues and friends to encourage them to use it and promote action to help children living with HIV.
- Download or order free print copies of the guide at: http://www.e-alliance.ch/en/s/hivaids/accessmeds/children/resource/ . The resource is available in English, French and Spanish.
- Add a link from your website to the resource to promote the action. You can use the following images with the html code that will direct people to the resource:
Introduction
A new action guide from the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance encourages young people to take the lead in calling for improvements in testing and treatment for infants and children living with HIV. “Prescription for Life” provides information and resources for schools, families, faith groups and communities to empower young people to write letters to pharmaceutical companies and governments, and promote the issue through the media. The action guide is available in English, French and Spanish. Use it in church and community settings, and promote it widely through your networks. Together, we can make a difference and give a future to millions of children.Background
It is estimated that 2.1 million children, aged under 15, are living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Yet children remain largely forgotten in global and national efforts to address HIV and AIDS. This is especially the case for children’s access to diagnostic testing for HIV and medicines to treat HIV, known as antiretrovirals (ARVs). Currently, only 15 percent of children in need of HIV treatment have access to it. The lack of testing and treatment is particularly severe in Sub-Saharan Africa. When children living with HIV do not get appropriate treatment, they suffer and die faster than adults living with the virus. Despite evidence that HIV treatment is very successful in children, more than 900 children die of AIDS-related illnesses every day. Letters generated from this year-long action will be used to keep governments accountable to commitments made in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and also used in focused advocacy with pharmaceutical companies by EAA participants. An exhibit of the letters will be prepared for the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 November 2009.What You Can Do
<a href="http://www.e-alliance.ch/en/s/hivaids/accessmeds/children/resource/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.e-alliance.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/pictures/ex_thumbs/
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<a href="http://www.e-alliance.ch/en/s/hivaids/accessmeds/children/resource/" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.e-alliance.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/pictures/ex_thumbs/
prescript_life_banner2_392x72.jpg" alt="Prescription for Life: Take action to help children living with HIV" border="0" width="392" height="72"></a>
For More Information
Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance: http://www.e-alliance.ch/en/s/hivaids/accessmeds/children/UNICEF “Unite for Children Unite Against AIDS”: http://www.uniteforchildren.org/index.html
WHO “Make medicines child size” http://www.who.int/childmedicines/en/
MSF “Children and HIV/AIDS”: http://www.msfaccess.org/main/hiv-aids/introduction-to-hivaids/children-and-hivaids/
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is a broad international network of churches and Christian organizations cooperating in advocacy on food and HIV and AIDS. The Alliance is based in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, see http://www.e-alliance.ch/
