Charles Ariko
5 May 2008
Kampala — MAJORITY of the children born with HIV/AIDS cannot access anti-retroviral treatment resulting in their early death, a health expert has said.
Dr. Wilfred Ochan Lokol, the head of strategic planning with the Baylor College of Medicine (Children's Foundation), said: "These children's lifespan is about three years if they don't access treatment. About 66% of them die before they are three years while 75% die within five years."
He said of the registered 140,000 children living with HIV/AIDS, only 8,000 are receiving anti-retroviral treatment.
"A total of 50,000 children need the treatment and every year, there are 25,000 new infections," Ochan said at a workshop organised by Reproductive Health Uganda at Arch Apartments in Kampala.
Ochan said out of the 300 health units countrywide accredited by the Ministry of Health to provide anti-retroviral treatment to people living with HIV/AIDS, only 100 can cater for affected children.
The units are located in the central region, leaving the majority of children in the rural areas exposed to early death.
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