UNICEF: About 30 New HIV Infections Daily in Latin America

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) revealed, on the occasion of World AIDS Day, that "about 30 new cases are recorded daily (that is, 11,000 cases annually) among adolescents and young people aged between 10 and 19 years in Latin America and the Caribbean." The report stated that "new infections in this age group are concentrated among adolescent males and young men," but the highest number of infections continues to be recorded among women who face difficulties in "negotiating for protected sexual relations." Gary Connel, UNICEF's regional director, emphasized in a statement that "the region has not seen a significant increase in HIV infections," stressing that the organization "is concerned about adolescents and young people contracting the virus without their knowledge." He noted that "less than 25 percent of adolescents and young people can access HIV testing, while it is rare for adolescents to receive sexual and reproductive health services." UNICEF estimates that about 34,000 pregnant women need treatment to prevent the virus from being transmitted to their children.