CYP Now - NCB Now: Comment - Let's not forget that HIV affects UK childrentoo

In 2001 a declaration of commitment on HIV/Aids was produced by the United Nations general assembly special session on HIV/Aids. One hundred and ninety-eight countries endorsed this declaration, including the UK. The follow up reports, due to be presented in June, will include progress reports from civil society, people living with HIV and vulnerable groups. But will the views of children living with HIV be included in this?

One main area in the declaration is orphans and vulnerable children.

Even within the UK HIV sector, this category is typically seen asrepresenting those children in the developing world where there is highprevalence of HIV/Aids and a lack of healthcare provision.

But are children living with HIV in the UK not also vulnerable? Medicaladvances mean HIV is now framed within chronic illness and disability -yet the stigma attached to the virus is still huge. Indeed, for some thereal and perceived impact of stigma is more damaging than the impact ofthe virus itself, profoundly harming the lives both of infected childrenand those living in a family affected by HIV.

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