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The latest knowledge and evidence on HIV/AIDS
Nurturing care for children affected by HIV
Nurturing care for children affected by HIV
In the early years, we lay down critical elements for health, well-being and productivity, which last throughout childhood, adolescence and adulthood. Failure to meet a child’s needs during this critical period limits the child’s ability to achieve their full developmental potential and threatens the future of human capital and society in general. This is particularly so for children affected by HIV who experience several interrelated factors that may hinder the achievement of a child’s full developmental potential.This brief from UNICEF and WHO describes the specific nurturing care components for children affected by HIV as well as facility-level and community-level actions for early childhood development.
HIV pediatrics 2020 workshop report
HIV pediatrics 2020 workshop report
The International Workshop on HIV & Pediatrics 2020 took place virtually on 16-17 November. It provided a global update on paediatric HIV and explored pertinent issues through dedicated plenary and oral abstract sessions on prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, paediatric treatment and care, and adolescents and HIV. It also included sessions on COVID-19 in children.UNICEF and Virology Education have developed a workshop report that summarises highlights and learnings from each session. Presentations and webcasts (provided speaker's consent) are also publicly available and can be accessed here.
No Time To Wait!
No Time To Wait!
As parents and caregivers, we want to care for our children as best we can - this includes protecting them against HIV. This fact sheets provides the information you need to know.
Living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic
Living with HIV during the COVID-19 pandemic
This information note is intended for use by policy makers, programme managers, and major funders of the health sector response to HIV, in contexts where COVID-19 poses a threat to service continuity for adolescents living with HIV, within national COVID-19 responses. The document succinctly summarizes what we know about COVID-19 risks in this vulnerable population, offers key considerations for safeguarding HIV treatment service continuity, and emphasizes sexual and reproductive health, mental health and psychosocial support as priority needs.The document is available for download in French and English.
UNICEF’s HIV programming in the context of COVID-19
UNICEF’s HIV programming in the context of COVID-19
Recognizing the harmful impact that COVID-19 and related lockdown measures pose for the HIV response, governments across ESA region are implementing interventions to sustain hard won gains toward ending AIDS. UNICEF country offices in support of governments and in collaboration with community and international partners have stepped up with evidence-driven and innovative interventions to protect continuity of HIV services. This compendium provides a summary of the innovative approaches being taken across nine HIV priority countries, Botswana, Eswatini, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
No Time To Wait strategic framework
No Time To Wait strategic framework
This framework has been designed for CSOs to help you plan your work around infant HIV testing. There is a particular focus on Africa, as programmes to introduce point-of-care machines have so far focused on African countries, but we hope that the framework can be used by anyone wanting to work on early infant diagnosis of HIV.It aims to help you to:know more about early infant diagnosis and, in particular, point-of-care early infant diagnosis.identify ways to work with communities to increase demand for early infant diagnosis and point-of-care early infant diagnosis byinforming, educating and supporting parents/caregivers about EID; andinfluencing wider society to create an environment where testing infants for HIV isencouraged and stigma and discrimination are eliminated.advocate for improvements to services, policies and funding relating to EID.actively play a part in the implementation and monitoring of EID in your community.
Programming for adolescents in Eastern and Southern Africa
Programming for adolescents in Eastern and Southern Africa
In partnership with the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, UNICEF has supported the governments of Botswana and Lesotho to implement targeted programmes for adolescent girls and young women. In Lesotho, a national multi-sectoral referral framework is strengthening community-facility linkages and is catalyzing increased access to HIV/SRH services by guiding adolescent and young people to appropriate services and care. In Botswana, a radio drama series together with peer education components is tackling tough issues adolescents are facing in love, life and relationships. Documentation of both experiences are available for download.
UNICEF's approach to mental health during COVID-19
UNICEF's approach to mental health during COVID-19
Mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) is a priority area for the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO). As a cross cutting issue for health/HIV, child protection, early childhood development and education, adolescent development and participation, gender, and disability, an emphasis has been placed on systems strengthening and a longer-term investment in MHPSS to ensure availability, quality and access to a multi-tiered system to meet the needs of children and adolescents, as well as parents and caregivers. This brief presents a snapshot of the multisectoral and adaptive approaches of UNICEF across East Asia and the Pacific to MHPSS during the COVID-19 response, that were undertaken in collaboration with government, civil society, development partners and young people’s networks.
Preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among women and girls using contraceptive services
Preventing HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among women and girls using contraceptive services
This programmatic brief explores how to expand HIV and STI prevention and contraceptive method options in contraceptive services and, thus, to reduce HIV and STI incidence among adolescent girls and women. It focuses on settings with extremely high HIV prevalence and incidence. The brief complements existing guidance on HIV prevention and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), amplifies calls for action and outlines more comprehensive approaches to integration of SRHR and HIV services. It also emphasizes the importance of SRHR for women living with HIV. It aligns with updated WHO recommendations for contraceptive eligibility for women at high risk of HIV and other HIV guidance for adolescent girls and young women.This brief is for national programme leaders, experts and members of national working groups on HIV and STI prevention in the context of contraceptive services. It is primarily relevant in settings with very high HIV prevalence in East and Southern Africa, in other high HIV prevalence settings in sub-Saharan Africa and for women from key populations in other regions. At the same time, it proposes differentiated strategies for settings with low, medium, high and extremely high HIV prevalence among women.
Strengthening paediatric TB and HIV case finding at the frontline
Strengthening paediatric TB and HIV case finding at the frontline
Community and primary health facility platforms have been recognized as important, but under-utilized entry points to address the large prevention, case detection and treatment gaps faced by young children with TB and/or HIV. In 2014, WHO and UNICEF revised community health worker packages for integrated community case management (iCCM) targeting children under five years of age, to include screening and referral for TB and HIV (TB/HIV iCCM). As part of an integrated, child-centered approach, TB/HIV iCCM is recommended for use in high TB and HIV burden settings.Developed by UNICEF and Save the Children, Lessons from the Field (Uganda, Nigeria, Malawi) and Guidance (under development) are available for download.
Advocates brief for No Time to Wait
Advocates brief for No Time to Wait
Point-of-care diagnostic machines are a critical breakthrough in HIV early infant diagnosis. In the countries where they are being used, they are already saving the lives of infants living with HIV. The technology has been shown to work, we know it is cost-effective, now is the time to scale up - all HIV-exposed infants should have access to point-of-care diagnosis.The Global Fund (GF) proposal development process and the USA President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) country operational plan (COP) processes are taking place right now – they are important opportunities to - all HIV-exposed infants should have access to point-of-care diagnosis (POC EID).
Out of school comprehensive sexuality education
Out of school comprehensive sexuality education
International technical and programmatic guidance on out-of-school comprehensive sexuality education evidence-informed approach for non-formal, out-of-school programmes.