Youths speak up for HIV and AIDS
Members of Plan UK's youth advisory panel recently met with DfID Minister Gareth Thomas to deliver a report calling for the world¿s poorest children to be given an active role in the fight against AIDS.
The youth advisory representatives discussed the challenges faced by children affected by AIDS in impoverished countries.
Olivia, 16 years of age and a member of the panel says; "AIDS is a global issue which has an impact on children in developing countries. Millions of children around the world are living with HIV or AIDS, 6,000 become infected with the HIV virus everyday and millions have lost their parents to AIDS."
Their visit to DfID, just over a year after British school children from Plan's Young People's Commission for Africa delivered a 10-point wish list for Africa's development to Downing Street, took place ahead of the launch of Plan's new report 'Circle of Hope' on children affected by AIDS, and ahead of the biannual International AIDS Conference, which takes place in Toronto between 13 - 18th August.
At the Conference, Plan will be calling for comprehensive, child-centred responses to AIDS including;
- Universal birth registration
- Protection of inheritance and property rights
- Access to healthcare services
- Children's input and representation
- Access to HIV care and treatment
- HIV and AIDS care programmes are developed to meet the most urgent needs
"Children will determine the future of this disease. It is important for them to have their say about it," says Olivia.
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