Protect the lifelines of youth and community-led HIV programmes

Youth-led, rights-based and gender transformative HIV response is key. “Community-led programmes are lifelines of the HIV response, reaching those most in need. As international aid shrinks, these lifelines are the first to disappear. We must protect them,” said UNAIDS. One such lifeline is youth-led programmes for HIV prevention and treatment. We need to protect it.

Will all children be born free of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis-B by 2030?

[हिंदी] Despite knowing how to prevent vertical transmission (from mother to the baby) of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis-B infections, we are failing with every child who is born with either of these preventable infections. We have the science-backed tools to ensure that all children are born free of these three infections. Failing to deploy them with utmost effectiveness is highly unacceptable.

Youth-led initiatives spark hope for children and adolescents living with HIV

"As a young person living with HIV, I had self-stigmatised myself due to the fear of discrimination… fear of discrimination if I dare disclose my HIV positive status to others… this fear had stopped me from living life like a normal person,” said a youth living with HIV who is interning with Human Touch Foundation in Goa, India.

[video] SMaRT-PCR researchers share insights on a possible modified mask and RT-PCR based method to find TB in children

5000 vertical HIV transmissions in India in 2021

States need tailored interventions to eliminate vertical transmission

Written by: Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

Edited by: Dr Trupti Gilada (CNS Medical Editor HIV & TB science)

published in aidsmap on 19 February 2024

published in aidsmap on 19 February 2024

[video] Ensuring no new child or youth gets addicted to tobacco is vital cog-in-the-wheel to #endTobacco

Long-awaited goal of ensuring every child is born HIV-free

[watch video interview | listen to podcast] Science has gifted us tools and evidence-based approaches to ensure that there is minimal risk of transmission of HIV virus from HIV-positive parents to the child during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. Despite these tools existing since almost two decades now to ensure every child is born HIV-free to positive parents, we have failed to implement them fully. As per UNAIDS, despite substantial progress made in the last two decades to ensure that every child born to positive parents is HIV-free, 150,000 children were born with HIV in 2020. This is nearly eight times more than the desired “goal of achieving less than 20,000 children born with HIV worldwide by 2020”. More worrying is that the pace of the decline has slowed in recent years.

[video] Think again: Are children living with HIV growing into adults living fulfilling lives with dignity?

[podcast] Think again: Are children living with HIV growing into adults living fulfilling lives with dignity?

This podcast features Kaleshwar, a BCom student and mentor with Snehagram in Karnataka speaks not only about seemingly insurmountable challenges but also with the steely resolve and rocky grit with which he overcame them, and continues to do so. He is in conversation with CNS Executive Director Shobha Shukla who spoke to him around AIDS 2022 (24th International AIDS Conference) in Montreal, Canada.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

How will children living with HIV grow up normally when HIV-stigma still lurks?

Although over four decades have passed since the first case of HIV got diagnosed globally, and commendable progress has been made to help people living with HIV lead normal and fulfilling lives, yet HIV-related stigma and discrimination still lurks.

[video] When will we deliver on the promise of ending parent-to-child transmission of HIV?

[podcast] Keep the promise: When will we end parent to child transmission of HIV?

This #AIDS2022 podcast features Dr BC Roy Awardee and noted HIV expert Dr Glory Alexander who is in conversation with CNS founder Managing Editor Ms Shobha Shukla. Dr Glory Alexander is part of organizing committee of AIDS 2022 (24th International AIDS Conference - AIDS 2022 - in Montreal, Canada) and also on Governing Council of AIDS Society of India (ASI). She is an alumni of the prestigious CMC (Christian Medical College) Vellore. She was part of the Bangalore Baptist Hospital before founding ASHA Foundation in the year 1998.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

AIDS 2022: Children and young people turning adversities into stepping stones

In the lead up to this year’s 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022), which is being held in Montreal, Canada, we at CNS (Citizen News Service) spoke to some young people who were born with HIV. They have overcome insurmountable challenges and obstacles in their childhood and adolescence, and are trailblazers for others, thanks to the support they got from Sneha Charitable Trust whose ‘I’mpossible’ programme, has improved the lives of these budding young adults of Snehagram across Southern India.

HIV care is essential and lifesaving, but not enough for living normal lives

 

Lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, as well as the full range of HIV care and support services are indeed essential but not enough to ensure that children and adolescents living with HIV can live a fully normal life. From getting education, vocational training, social and economic support, to pursuing careers of their choice and aspirations, the spectrum may differ from person to person but is surely much wider and deeper than the very essential HIV care services.

[video] How can children living with HIV grow up normally if society reeks of stigma?

[podcast] How can children living with HIV grow up normally if stigma reeks in society?

This podcast features Father Teji Thomas is the Director of Snehagram in Karnataka, India. He is in conversation with CNS Executive Director Shobha Shukla around AIDS 2022 (24th International AIDS Conference) in Montreal, Canada.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] #NothingIsImpossible | I'Mpossible mantra for children living with HIV to lead normal fulfilling lives

[podcast] #NothingIsImpossible | I'M Possible mantra for children living with HIV to lead normal fulfilling lives

This podcast features Dr Michael Babu Raj of Sneha Charitable Trust shares insights about I'M Possible Fellowship that is reimagining how we can support children living with HIV to grow up normally and live normal fulfilling lives in a society that gives them a fair chance with equity, rights, justice, and dignity. He is in conversation with CNS Executive Director Shobha Shukla around AIDS 2022 (24th International AIDS Conference) in Montreal, Canada. Dr Michael Babu Raj is the former Deputy Director of KHPT (Karnataka Health Promotion Trust). 

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] Why UNICEF head has always been an American white citizen since 1946? Why not from other UN member nations?

[video] 30.4% children still not getting routine vaccination/ immunisation in Uttar Pradesh