Reuben Buhari
3 January 2008
Kaduna — About 2.9 million people died of HIV and AIDS-related illnesses world wide in 2006, UNICEF said in an annual report issued in Abuja.
The report, "A World Fit for Children 2007",was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria yesterday.It monitors global efforts aimed at promoting the welfare of children in developing countries.
The report also said that 4.3 million new HIV infections were recorded in 2006."In many countries, new infections areheavily concentrated among young people aged 15-24, who accounted for 40 per cent of the 4.3 million new HIV infections in 2006", the Unicef said.
"New evidence suggests declining HIV prevalence in some countries as a result of young people adopting safer sexual behaviours", it said.
It said sex practice was, however,"not yet widespread or strong enough to turn the tide".
According to the report, the prevention of HIV infection among young people and adolescents is key to an effective intervention in mitigating the spread and impact of the disease.
Unicef said that the number of people living with HIV is on the increase, pointing out that more than 10 million people aged 15 to 24 were infected with the virus.
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