End Pediatric AIDS in Children (EPIC)

Launched at AIDS2022, the EPIC initiative joins forces to highlight the urgent need to re-commit focus, resources, and action to end AIDS in children by 2030. EPIC is just the latest way Aidsfonds and GNP+ kept children on the agenda at the world’s largest gathering of HIV activists, scientists, and donors.

Evidence from UNAIDS’ recent Global AIDS Update report, entitled “In Danger,” is concerning. The document reveals that children are being left behind in the HIV response: Testing, treatment, and viral suppression data for children are off target and remain poor in comparison to adults across the HIV response.

Nearly four out of 10 children living with HIV were undiagnosed in 2021. Just 15% of adults living with HIV do not know their status, according to the UNAIDS report. Only about half of children living with HIV had access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment in 2021. In contrast, adult treatment coverage was reported at 76 per cent. Similarly, almost 60% of children on HIV treatment are not virally suppressed. Less than a third of adults on antiretrovirals report the same. Not only are these gaps widening yearly, but they also continue to make children vulnerable to new infections and death.

In 2021, children accounted for just 4% of people living with HIV but made up 15% of all AIDS-related deaths. These deaths are preventable, and this trend cannot continue.