Breaking Barriers: Building Better Societies for Children with HIV

Children represent the future of our societies, yet HIV/AIDS continues to pose a severe threat to their health, development, and survival. With 2.4 million people living with HIV in India—including approximately 82,000 children under the age of 15—the epidemic continues to impact the nation’s youth disproportionately. Globally, a child is infected with HIV every 12 seconds, and one dies from AIDS every 16 seconds, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions. In India, young people aged 15–29 bear 31% of the national HIV burden, while alarming data gaps persist for the 10–14 age group. Many children born with HIV go undiagnosed, with half dying before their second birthday due to lack of early detection, limited pediatric ART access, and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Social stigma, poverty, malnutrition, and the absence of comprehensive policies further compound the problem—especially for orphaned and vulnerable children. Street children, despite facing high-risk environments involving sexual exploitation and drug use, are notably absent from national priority lists. The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), under the Government of India, has urged a multi-sectoral response involving 31 ministries to integrate HIV care into broader developmental agendas. Despite progress, significant systemic barriers remain. This paper calls for an integrated, child-centered approach to HIV/AIDS prevention, diagnosis, and care, addressing clinical, social, and policy challenges. Building better societies for children with HIV requires not only medical intervention but also strong family support, community engagement, and inclusive public health strategies that leave no child behind.