News and features
UNICEF-supported programme cares for Cambodian children living with HIV
SVAY RIENG PROVINCE, Cambodia, 14 July 2008 – On the veranda of their rural home, 12-year-old Vanna, his twin brother and an older sister race against the natural light to finish their homework. A clock perched between family photos chimes six times as the three orphans and their aunt make the most of the waning day.
Manchester United footballers partner with UNICEF during visit to South Africa
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, 22 July 2008 – UNICEF UK Ambassador and Manchester United star Ryan Giggs took time out from the football club’s pre-season tour of South Africa this past Sunday to learn about the impact of HIV/AIDS and violence on the country’s children and young people.
At Uzbekistan conference, Central Asia unites against mother-to-child HIV transmission
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, 16 July 2008 – Central Asia’s HIV/AIDS epidemic is on the rise. Major outbreaks among children have occurred recently in hospitals across the region, mainly in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. One reason for this outbreak is the transmission of the virus from mother to child.
Photo exhibition in Mozambique shows impact of AIDS through the eyes of children
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 14 July 2008 – Last year, 21 children aged 11 through 17 took to the streets of Maputo with cameras to document their lives and their communities. Over the course of two weeks, with help from a team of professional photographers, they opened the doors of their homes and learned how to tell their stories through the camera’s lens.
Project Hope rallies community support to help families cope with AIDS in Cameroon
NJINICOM, Cameroon, 1 July 2008 – Eric Nking and his wife Mary Mbeng are raising 10 children. As well as four of their own, they take care of the four children of Eric’s deceased sister and two other children who are unrelated to them.
Support for households headed by children and the elderly in Mozambique
CHÓKWE DISTRICT, Mozambique, 18 June 2008 – It is mid-morning but Rosina, 16, is still at home, hurrying to finish her domestic chores before going to school. Her home is a small, dark hut where she has been living for about a year with her three brothers, the youngest of whom is only three years old.
UNICEF-supported clinic offers hope to those living with HIV/AIDS in Lesotho
MASARU, Lesotho, 4 June 2008 — In Lesotho, a deep impoverished country with one of the world’s highest rates of HIV and AIDS, Kananelo, 7, arrives with his grandfather at the UNICEF-supported Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence.
Help and support for Nepalese families living with HIV
ACCHAM DISTRICT, Nepal, 2 May 2008 – Four women sitting cross-legged on the floor are singing the melancholic strains of a song. The women, all of whom are from families affected by HIV in this remote area of western Nepal, improvise the words and help each other complete the couplets.
Manchester United and FC Barcelona join forces for UNICEF and the fight against AIDS
BARCELONA, Spain, 23 April 2008 – They are fierce competitors on the football pitch, playing in front of millions of fans and television viewers. But just before the match that took place at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, both Manchester United and Football Club Barcelona put aside their rivalries to join UNICEF and the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign.
'Children and AIDS: Second stocktaking report’ cites progress made to date
NEW YORK, USA, 3 April 2008 – Important progress has been made in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS since UNICEF – as a UNAIDS co-sponsoring agency – launched the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign in October 2005.
Kiemde’s story: Combating HIV/AIDS through peer-to-peer education
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, 1 April 2008 – Approximately 120,000 children in Burkina Faso have lost a parent to HIV/AIDS. Among them, is Kiemde, 12, who lost his father two years ago. Now, he dedicates every weekend to teaching his classmates and friends how to protect themselves against the virus that took his father’s life.
Damienne’s story: Raising awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention through open dialogue
TSÉVIÉ, Togo, 9 May 2008 – Damienne, a 17-year-old high school student, has been a peer educator for five years, teaching her classmates about HIV prevention. Her goal, she says, is to get people to speak out and to bury the taboos.
Support reaches a household of five siblings orphaned by AIDS in Malawi
LILONGWE, Malawi, 30 April May 2008 – At just 13 years of age, Tiyamike was already a veteran caregiver responsible looking after four younger siblings. Tiyamike’s father had died the year before, due to complications from AIDS, and soon after, when his HIV-infected mother took ill, Tiyamike left school and started working.
Swazis ‘Walk the Nation’ to support HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention
MANKAYANE, Swaziland, 14 March 2008 – Andreas Simelane, at 63, was the oldest amongst the nearly 2,000 walkers in ‘Walk the Nation’, a 12-day walk across the tiny mountain Kingdom of Swaziland in hopes of spreading a message of hope, awareness and dignity for people living with HIV and AIDS. The walk concluded yesterday.
Mobile testing and treatment fight HIV/AIDS in Zambia’s Mpika District
MPIKA, Zambia, 11 March 2008 – One in five pregnant women in Zambia is HIV-positive. It is a heart-stopping figure, but it also explains the increasing rates of paediatric HIV that doctors are facing in hospitals and clinics across the country.
Young people embark on first-ever walk across Swaziland to raise HIV awareness
MBABANE, Swaziland, 4 March 2008 – Early morning sunshine greeted more than 100 Swazis and four cabinet ministers who had gathered just inside the border gate separating the Kingdom of Swaziland from Mozambique.
3R-UNICEF All Women’s Futsal Playoffs empower girls to fight AIDS
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 4 March 2008 – More than 1,000 girls and women from across Malaysia came together recently in a spirit of sisterhood and empowerment to unite against AIDS.
Classroom drama and discussion teach young people about HIV in Mozambique
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 28 February 2008 – Every week, activists from Kindlimuka, an association of people living with HIV, visit primary schools in Maputo to discuss with students the ways they can protect themselves against HIV.
China’s Youth Ambassadors raise HIV awareness, online and in the community
BEIJING, China, 28 February 2008 – China’s Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign website was recently honoured as one of the country’s Leading Websites of the Year. The annual award recognizes young people in China who are battling HIV/AIDS through Internet awareness and messages of prevention.
In partnership with UNICEF, delegates from Fútbol Club Barcelona visit Swaziland
NKAMBENI, Swaziland, 13 December 2007 – A ball made from plastic bags is not among the usual equipment used by professional footballers. However, that didn’t stop members of the renowned Fútbol Club Barcelona from joining in a pickup game with children at a 'Neighbourhood Care Point' for orphans and vulnerable children during a two-day visit to Swaziland earlier this month.
UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children visits AIDS projects in São Paulo
SÃO PAULO, Brazil, 10 December 2007 – “I have learned so much from all of the young people that I met and spoke with today. You have inspired me with your optimism, your courage, your determination and your warmth,” said Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Maria Teresa, during the first official field visit in her new capacity as a UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children.
Partners In Health: Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission in Haiti
NEW YORK, USA, 6 December 2007 – In Haiti, where 2.2 per cent of the adult population is living with HIV, accordng to the latest Demographic and Health Survey, care and prevention are urgent issues. The Zanmi Lasante (‘Partners In Health’ in Haitian Creole) project is actively working to reduce the number of new infections, with a special focus on curbing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
On World AIDS Day, faith-based leaders show solidarity with HIV-affected youth in Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, 4 December 2007 – The theme of World AIDS Day, 1 December, in Brazil this year – ‘Qual a sua atitude?’ (‘What’s your attitude?’) – was chosen to help mobilize children, adolescents and all of Brazilian society for positive action on the issue of HIV/AIDS.
‘Red Ribbon Express’ rides the rails to raise youth AIDS awareness in India
NEW DELHI, India, 3 December 2007 – The Railway Age dawned in India in 1853, with the first train to run from Bombay to Thana, a distance of 21 miles. Over 150 years later, the extensive Indian railway network covering almost 70,000 miles is transporting more than passengers and cargo across the continent. Now it is also a vital conduit for raising AIDS awareness.
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World AIDS Day 2007: Despite progress on many fronts, children remain vulnerable
NEW YORK, USA, 30 November 2007 – The impact of HIV and AIDS on children and young people continues to be of critical significance as campaigners mark World AIDS Day, 1 December, this year.
International Children’s Day of Broadcasting announces 2007 award to Thai Youth News
NEW YORK, USA, 28 November 2007 – UNICEF and the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences have jointly announced the winner of the 2007 International Children's Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Award: National Broadcasting of Thailand.
Where ignorance can be deadly, breaking the cycle of AIDS in Côte d’Ivoire
ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire, 29 November 2007 – It is a hot Saturday, and a group of young people gathers beneath a tree to avoid the direct heat of the sun. They listen intently as Hervé Yao, 26, and Carole Gnamaka, 17, discuss safe sex practices. The peer educators are there every weekend to explain to neighbourhood youth the dangers of HIV, how the virus is transmitted and ways to protect against it.
Countess Alexandra relaunches the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign in Denmark
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, 27 November 2007 – Alexandra Christina, Countess of Frederiksborg relaunched the Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign in Denmark today. The event was attended by a range of Goodwill Ambassadors, donors, corporate partners, the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs as well as Danish representatives from WFP, UNFPA, the Danish UN Association, and Danish child rights organisations.
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Roger Federer to speak out on World AIDS Day
NEW YORK, USA, 26 November 2007 – Roger Federer, the Association of Tennis Professionals world number-one tennis player and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, took a break from his whirlwind schedule of tournaments, grand slams and public appearances to record a video message raising awareness about HIV and AIDS.
Peer education raises youth AIDS awareness in Burkina Faso
OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, 1 November 2007 – Every weekend, Oumou, 13, leads a peer discussion group to raise youth awareness about HIV/AIDS – including its consequences and how to prevent them – as part of a peer-education programme here.
The second anniversary of Unite For Children Unite Against AIDS campaign is marked in New Delhi
NEW DELHI, India, 1 November 2007 – UNICEF and UNAIDS marked the second anniversary of the Unite For Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign in India last month. On 25 October, a delegation met with the President of India Pratibha Patil to show their solidarity in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Progress and challenges for Botswana
BOTSWANA, 18 October 2007 – In a joint mission, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman, UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot and President of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Global Health Programme Dr. Tadatakai Yamada visited Botswana to gain a shared perspective of the progress and challenges facing the country in its AIDS response.
Executive Director Ann M. Veneman continues her four day South African visit by meeting with an orphaned family
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 8 October 2007 — The smiles at the Davey household (not their real name) were bright as the children eagerly welcomed UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman during her four day mission to South Africa. The family, which is comprised of four siblings and a cousin ranging in age from 8 to 21, has been youth-led since losing both their parents to HIV/AIDS.
Nelson Mandela and Executive Director Ann M. Veneman unite for children
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 5 October 2007 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman met with Nelson Mandela today to discuss the importance of partnerships to address children's issues, particularly HIV and AIDS.
Jenna Bush celebrates ‘Ana’s Story’ at UNICEF House book launch
NEW YORK, USA, 1 October 2007 – Jenna Bush, who interned with UNICEF in Latin America from September 2006 through May 2007, has drawn from that experience to write ‘Ana’s Story: A Journey of Hope’ – a personal account of a girl who struggles to break free from a vicious cycle of abuse, poverty and illness.
ICC Twenty20 championship finals boost global AIDS campaign
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 24 September 2007 – The first-ever ICC Twenty20 competition came to a climax today, transforming the image of cricket and raising awareness about how children are affected by HIV and AIDS.
Cricket chief Malcolm Speed promotes ‘the power of sport’ to fight HIV and AIDS
CAPE TOWN, South Africa, 18 September 2007 – International Cricket Council (ICC) chief Malcolm Speed went to bat against HIV and AIDS at the weekend and challenged South African children to take up cricket.
Sri Lankan cricket stars join fight against HIV in South Africa
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 14 September 2007 – Sri Lankan cricketers Kumar Sangakkara, Jehan Mubarak and Upul Tharanga have been taking time off from their duties on the pitch in the ICC World Twenty20 championships to campaign for children’s rights in the global fight against HIV and AIDS.
ICC Twenty 20 cricket contest goes to bat against AIDS
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 12 September 2007 – The worlds of cricket and AIDS prevention united for children yesterday at the start of the ICC World Twenty 20 tournament.
New Zealand cricketers visit ‘Little Champs’ in Johannesburg township
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 6 September 2007 – It was all song and dance as sporting heroes from the cricketing world arrived at the Little Champs Sports Academy in Alexandra township.
Cricket stars back global AIDS campaign
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 5 September 2007 – The world’s top cricket stars will support the Unite for Children, Unite against AIDS campaign at the ICC World Twenty 20 tournament in South Africa from 11-24 September.
Timor-Leste’s first nationwide HIV/AIDS campaign tells young people 'It’s time to talk'
DILI, Timor-Leste, 20 August 2007 – In Timor-Leste, HIV educators have been using code names to refer to genitals during their educational programmes. This, they say, makes it less awkward to talk about sexual reproduction and HIV with young people.
In Japan, FC Barcelona raises AIDS awareness and support for children at risk
YOKOHAMA, Japan, 9 August 2007 – Thousands of FC Barcelona fans walked into Nissan Stadium here earlier this week dressed in their team jerseys, eager to see football stars such as Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and the squad’s latest addition, Thierry Henry, in action.
Jane’s Digital Diary: Malawian girls’ rights on the line
NEW YORK, USA, 31 July 2007 – Jane Kachitenji is passionate about girls’ rights – to education, safety and the same opportunities as boys. She’s an active participant in the Kaufulu Girls Foundation, a girls’ club in her home community of Lilongwe, the capital of Malawi.
Breaking the cycle of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Haiti
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti, 30 July 2007 – Della lives in an isolated village in the Northwest Department, an arid and mostly barren region that is among the poorest of Haiti’s 10 departments. It is in this economically challenged area that the young mother is raising her four daughters while preparing for the birth of her fifth.
Norway Cup gives girls from Harare a chance to triumph
HARARE, Zimbabwe, 26 July 2007 - With all the confidence of a world-class soccer star, Omega Mpini, 13, shrugs off the compliments of her teammates and runs back into position. All eyes are on the young girl leaping several feet in the air, volleying the ball across the pitch. As they say in these parts: Goal!
Young people use new media to speak out on HIV and AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 25 July 2007 - As part of a new media video contest, ten young people from around the world documented their thoughts and experiences on HIV and AIDS. Their video blogs, or ‘vlogs’, are available today from UNICEF and MTV Staying Alive and show how HIV affects young people’s daily lives in different ways.
UNICEF expands its outreach to children affected by HIV in Zimbabwe
GOROMONZI DISTRICT, Zimbabwe, 20 July 2007 – With temperatures below 10 degrees Celsius, Lillian, 13, scoops water from a well. It’s just before six in the morning and she has 90 minutes to get the water back to her hut, collect wood, start a fire, make breakfast for her family and, finally, walk a kilometre to school.
Thai children unmask the stigma of living with HIV/AIDS
CHIANG MAI, Thailand, 10 July 2007 – On a stage inside Chiang Mai University’s Art Museum, children donned masks in order to enact a play entitled, ‘Who am I? Why am I here?’ The drama, which was performed before a standing room-only audience, gave voice to the pain, fears and hopes the young actors have as children living with HIV/AIDS in Thailand.
UNICEF delivers first shipment of generic antiretrovirals to Brazil
BRASILIA, Brazil, 5 July 2007 – UNICEF has delivered 113,800 doses of Efavirenz, a generic antiretroviral (ARV) medication, to the Brazilian Ministry of Health. The ARVs will benefit 75,000 people living with HIV in the country, including children and adolescents.
Childhood lost: UNICEF and partners assist children orphaned by AIDS in Uganda
BARR SUB-COUNTY, Uganda, 21 June 2007 – Imagine yourself as an orphaned child, the head of your household, responsible for your four siblings. It is difficult for many adults to envision such a childhood.
Testimony and calls for unity set the stage for a global AIDS conference in Kigali
KIGALI, Rwanda, 15 June – Some 3,000 men, women and children gathered earlier this week at Kigali’s Amahoro Stadium to make an emphatic statement prior to the 2007 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting, which opens here in the Rwandan capital tomorrow.
Art therapy camps build confidence and hope to Thai children living with HIV
SATTAHIP, Thailand, 14 June 2007 – The swimming and splashing stop at 10 minutes to 6 p.m., exactly. A whistle blows, and 50 children, ranging in age from 7 to 17, run out of the sea, laughing with their friends as they pick up their towels and shoes.
Young peer educators raise awareness of HIV/AIDS prevention in Gujarat youth
GUJARAT, India, 7 May 2007 – The western state of Gujarat, a border area with a fairly high number of migrant labourers, is well known for its rapid economic development and ranks among India’s ‘medium prevalence’ states with regard to HIV.
At South Africa’s third national AIDS conference, all eyes on rising child mortality
DURBAN KWA ZULU NATAL, South Africa, 8 June 2007 – An unprecedented increase in child mortality in South Africa, one of wealthiest countries on the continent, spurred debate this week at the third national AIDS conference in Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal.
Buddhist monks trained to support Cambodian families affected by HIV/AIDS
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, 6 June 2007 – Throughout Cambodia, Buddhist monks are held in high regard, not only as religious leaders but for their traditional role of helping those most in need. For many Cambodians living with or affected by HIV and AIDS, Buddhist monks provide a vital link to treatment and counselling.
‘Idols West Africa’ join the global AIDS campaign
ABUJA, Nigeria, 31 May 2007 – Timi and Omawumi, the two ‘Idols West Africa’ finalists of the current season, are not smiling. Their faces are serious and even sad, symbolizing the gravity of what they are doing – filming a special public service announcement about the effects of HIV/AIDS on children in the region.
Life-skills training turns Turkmen students into pioneers of AIDS awareness
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, 30 May 2007 – Knowledge about the risk of HIV and how to prevent AIDS is very low in Turkmenistan. Less than one in eight women is able to identify the four ways the virus can be transmitted.
‘Friends Helping Friends’ living with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia
SVAY RIENG, Cambodia, 18 May 2007 – Having a network of understanding friends to share the problems of living with HIV/AIDS is difficult in remote rural areas, particularly for young children.
Lao photo contest encourages ‘Caring Dads’ to protect their children from HIV
VIENTIANE, Lao PDR, 4 May 2007 – The setting sun behind Vientiane’s Victory Monument usually illuminates a throng of determined exercisers power-walking or jogging around this Laotian version of the Arc de Triumph, as the last straggling tourists climb back on their buses.
ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 hits a six for children affected by AIDS
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 30 April 2007 – As the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 drew to a close this past weekend, the battle to help children affected by AIDS gathered new momentum thanks to the unique partnership between the International Cricket Council (ICC), UNICEF, UNAIDS and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS.
Safe water project eases the burden for children affected by AIDS in Zimbabwe
BULILIMA-MANGWE, Zimbabwe, 25 April 2007 – As a child, Nomagugu Ncube had a dream. She wanted to be a dressmaker making people look cool and beautiful. But since her sister died and her mother fell sick with HIV, she has had to put her dream on hold.
Steinway’s first ‘Lang Lang’ branded piano to benefit AIDS programmes in China
BEIJING, China, 25 April 2007 – UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and renowned pianist Lang Lang took time out from his busy concert schedule last week to launch his own branded line of pianos at Beijing’s main Steinway & Sons showroom.
Outreach efforts address the double stigma of HIV/AIDS and drug use in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 16 April 2007 – Injecting drug users are overwhelmingly the largest contributor to the spread of HIV and AIDS in Malaysia. And in this country, as in many other societies around the world, they bear a double stigma.
England’s bowler Stuart Broad visits UNICEF project at Barbados primary school
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, 13 April 2007 – Students participating in the Hillaby Turner’s Hall Primary School Positive Lifestyle Cricket Fest were recently given a special treat. One of the English cricket team’s fast bowlers, Stuart Broad, took part in their inter-school cricket competition.
ICC top umpire and most experienced Match Referee call foul on AIDS stigma
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, 13 April 2007 – Sport is a great leveller that allows people to take part in healthy, life-enhancing activities. But sadly, that is not the case for people living with HIV and AIDS – especially children. Each day young people with HIV suffer the stigma associated with the disease and are marginalized in all parts of their lives, including sports.
Cricketers sign on to AIDS campaign in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, 10 April 2007 – While in Guyana for the Super 8 stage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 over the past two weeks, most of the competing cricket teams stayed at the Le Meridien Pegasus Hotel in Georgetown. While there, many celebrated cricketers made a very public display of their commitment to the fight against HIV and AIDS.
South African match referee meets with young HIV/AIDS activists in Antigua
ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, 10 April 2007 – Mike Procter, a former member of the South African cricket team and current International Cricket Council (ICC) Match Referee, officiated at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 matches played in Antigua over the past two weeks. But what really held his attention were the efforts of young people in Antigua working to reduce the spread of HIV among teens.
Young Malaysian footballers go on the offensive against HIV and AIDS
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 10 April 2007 – Shawn Daniels holds a teammate in a headlock, refusing to let go. Instead of coming to the aid of Shawn’s captive, the rest of the team looks on and laughs.
West Indies cricket team receives warm welcome from young cricket players in Guyana
TIMEHRI, Guyana, 3 April 2007 – Under banners proclaiming Unite for Children Unite against AIDS, young cricketers from across Guyana welcomed the West Indies cricket team as they arrived at Cheddi Jagan International Airport in Timehri last week.
South African cricket team visits community health centre in Guyana
GEORGETOWN, Guyana, 2 April 2007 – "Every wicket counts in cricket and it's the same with the fight against HIV and AIDS. Everybody's contribution makes a difference," said UNAIDS Country Coordinator for Guyana and Suriname, Dr. Ruben del Prado. He spoke during a visit by members of the South African cricket team to the Dorothy Bailey Health Centre in Georgetown.
Irish cricketer visits Jamaican programme for people with disabilities
SPANISH TOWN, Jamaica, 28 March 2007 - In the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007, Ireland is probably the team that best knows what it is to beat the odds. Having prevailed over Pakistan and tied with Zimbabwe during the group stage matches, they made their first-ever ICC Cricket World Cup appearance.
New Zealand cricketer encourages Antiguan youths
ANTIGUA, 27 March 2007 – As the New Zealand cricket team began their workouts in Antigua for the Super Eight round of the ICC World Cup 2007, Blackcap Ross Taylor visited local youths involved in the UNICEF-sponsored Health and Family Life Education Programme here.
Bangladesh and Bermuda cricketers team up against HIV/AIDS stigma
ARANGUEZ, Trinidad, 23 March 2007 – ICC World Cup 2007 cricketers from Bangladesh and Bermuda teamed up with children and young people in Trinidad on Thursday to help break the stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS.
Australian cricketers visit teen mother programme in St. Kitts
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts, 23 March 2007 – Australian cricketers visited a teen mother programme here as part of the ICC Cricket World Cup alliance between the International Cricket Council, UNAIDS, UNICEF and the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS.
Sri Lankan cricketer treats Trinidadian children to ICC Cricket World Cup 2007
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, 22 March 2007 – Wednesday was a special day for the children of the Cyril Ross Nursery in Tunapuna, just outside the Trinidadian capital, Port of Spain. The Nursery is well known in Trinidad as home to 38 children – 36 of them living with HIV.
Malaysia works to break the cycle of mother-to-child HIV transmission
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, 22 March 2007 – Puteri, 12, picks up a large orange tablet and drops it into her mouth. It takes two gulps of water before she manages to swallow it. She frowns, looking at the small dish in her hand containing three other pills of various shapes and colours.
Indian cricket star brings message of hope to Trinidad youths
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, 21 March 2007 – They came from all over the community of Gonzales – schoolchildren, local residents, young cricketers and youth groups – drawn to a playing field for a visit from one of the greatest batsmen of all time, India’s Sachin Tendulkar.
Netherlands cricketers support AIDS awareness in St. Kitts
ST KITTS, Eastern Caribbean, 21 March 2007 – Two members of the Netherlands cricket team showed their support for the global Unite for Children. Unite against AIDS campaign on Tuesday by visiting two day care centres in St. Kitts, one of the islands hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
England cricketers inspire youths and support AIDS campaign in St. Lucia
ST. LUCIA, Eastern Caribbean, 20 March 2007 – England cricketers took time off from the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 on Monday to meet local young people here and show their support for the global campaign on children and AIDS.
Zimbabwean cricket star visits Jamaican youth centre
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 19 March 2007 – Following an impressive knock of 67 runs against Ireland in a match that ended in a thrilling tie at Jamaica’s Sabina Park, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Zimbabwe’s opening batsman, took time off on Friday to do the other thing he enjoys – helping children.
Sri Lankan cricket star brings a message of hope to children in Trinidad
TUNAPUNA, Trinidad, 19 March 2007 – “Hi Uncle Kumar,” shouted the children of the Cyril Ross Nursery as they welcomed Sri Lankan cricket star Kumar Sangakkara to their home here, just outside Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Scottish cricket players visit St. Kitts teens involved in HIV/AIDS prevention
ST. KITTS, 19 March 2007 – It has often been said that young people hold the solutions to many of the problems that they face.
Kenyan and Canadian cricketers visit Boys’ Training Centre in St. Lucia
CASTRIES, St. Lucia, 16 March 2007 – Twenty-seven young boys living away from their homes and families – some abused or abandoned, others in conflict with the law – got a special treat when cricketers from the Kenyan and Canadian teams took time from their busy schedules to visit the UNICEF-supported Boys’ Training Centre in Gros Islet, St. Lucia, where the boys stay.
Top cricketers promote safe sex and abstinence in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 15 March 2007 – Seven weeks of competition in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 began on Tuesday with a victory by the West Indies over Pakistan in front of a record crowd of over 16,000 at Jamaica’s Sabina Park.
United against AIDS at the opening of the ICC Cricket World Cup in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 12 March 2007 – The worldwide audience that watched the opening ceremony of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2007 on Sunday witnessed a defining moment in sport.
Peer educators in Mali spread the word about HIV/AIDS
BAMAKO, Mali, 13 March 2007 – Soraya clearly remembers the misconceptions about HIV and AIDS that her uncle passed on to her. She says he told her that the disease was “just a project to get money from developed countries,” that it “does not concern us” and that “white people invented it.”
Cricket World Cup campaign on AIDS and children kicks off in Jamaica
KINGSTON, Jamaica, 7 March 2007 – The infectious beat of Love and Protection, gliding seamlessly between soca, reggae and R&B and performed by Jamaica’s Ashe Ensemble, moved the feet of many to a tap along this morning at the Terra Nova Hotel in Kingston Jamaica.
ICC Cricket World Cup begins, highlighting the needs of children affected by AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 12 March 2007 – Cricket’s largest and most prestigious event, the ICC Cricket World Cup, officially kicked off in Jamaica this weekend with a colourful ceremony featuring 10,000 spectators and over 2,000 performers – including reggae legend and newly appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Jimmy Cliff.
Executive Director visits new school for orphaned and vulnerable children
AWASSA, Ethiopia, 23 February 2007 – UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman visited the newly built Berhan Guzo School for orphaned and disadvantaged children here on Wednesday.
Donors come together for Zimbabwe’s orphans and vulnerable children
HARARE, Zimbabwe, 22 February 2007 – In a one-room hut with a torn blanket for a door, Miriam, 16, lives with her six younger siblings.
Uganda Kids League in exhibition match with FC Barcelona cadet team
BARCELONA, Spain, 2 February 2007 – Amongst the TV cameras and photographers, 16 boys from Uganda shivered in the cold and rain but waited patiently. When the moment arrived, they walked out onto the pitch in Camp Nou – the stadium of Football Club Barcelona – and the crowd roared in appreciation.
Paediatric Day Hospital transforms lives of children living with HIV
MAPUTO, Mozambique, 17 January 2007 – In a sunny waiting room decorated with colourful paintings, 14-year-old Leo (not his real name) chats happily with the nurse. But his present disposition belies a difficult past.
Namibian Digital Diarist talks to other young people about AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 17 January 2007 – In her latest Digital Diary, UNICEF Radio youth reporter Livey Van Wyk, 21, takes her recording equipment into the streets and youth centres of her community outside Windhoek, Namibia. She asks young people to talk to her about their country’s future and their thoughts about HIV/AIDS.
Report finds AIDS campaign gathering momentum despite major challenges
NEW YORK, USA, 16 January 2007 – A global campaign to put children at the heart of the fight against AIDS is gathering momentum but much, much more needs to be done, according to a stocktaking report on the initiative’s first year.
Calling all young filmmakers: What is cricket?
Videos can be humourous or informative, animated or live-action, shot on a mobile phone, with a regular digital camera or in a studio. All submissions will be featured on the cricket section of the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS website.
New PSAs in Ecuador urge pregnant woman to be tested and treated for HIV
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador, 4 January 2007 – When Andrea, 20, discovered that her husband had HIV/AIDS, she immediately got tested. Already five months pregnant, she discovered that she was HIV-positive.
Corporate football teams help fight HIV/AIDS in Lagos
LAGOS, Nigeria, 12 December 2006 – The hot sun beat down on the sandy pitch at Lekki British International School in Lagos as 10 football players struggled for the ball.
Report finds nearly half of all children in Mozambique living in extreme poverty
NEW YORK, USA, 14 December 2006 – Almost half of Mozambique’s 10 million children are living in extreme poverty, according to ‘Childhood Poverty in Mozambique’, a United Nations report released today.
Egypt joins the global AIDS campaign in a bid to keep HIV prevalence low
CAIRO, Egypt, 11 December 2006 – Egypt has become the latest country to join UNICEF’s global UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign. The occasion was marked by a gala evening involving some of the Arab world’s leading celebrities, who gathered with street children and community leaders to raise public awareness about HIV/AIDS.
International Children’s Day of Broadcasting 2006 to focus on fighting HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 8 December 2006 – Behind the scenes, in front of the cameras and on the air, youth around the world are using media to express and empower themselves.
Spanish footballers ‘keep the promise’ to children on World AIDS Day
BARCELONA, Spain, 5 December 2006 – More than 20 football teams, including FC Barcelona and FC Real Madrid, took part in a massive display of solidarity for children affected by HIV and AIDS this past weekend.
AIDS awareness songs kick-off hip-hop tour of US public schools
NEW YORK, USA, 1 December 2006 – Students at Martin Luther King High School in New York had time out of class today for an AIDS awareness lesson hip-hop style, thanks to rapper MAGZ. The 20-year-old hip-hop artist visited the school on World AIDS Day at the start of his AIDS Awareness Public School Hip-Hop Tour.
Sonia Gandhi and Bill Clinton launch AIDS programme for children
NEW DELHI, India, 30 November 2006 – On the eve of World AIDS Day, Former US President Bill Clinton and Sonia Gandhi, one of India’s leading politicians, launched India’s first National Paediatric Programme on HIV and AIDS.
Two US youths with HIV join the fight against AIDS in Ethiopia
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 30 November 2006 – Kimberly Canady, 19, and Elias Perez, 20, both from Brooklyn, look tired but have a sparkle in their eyes as they arrive in Ethiopia after the 16-hour flight donated by Ethiopian Airlines.
On World AIDS Day, children inspire new partnerships to fight HIV
NEW YORK, USA, 30 November 2006 – Twenty-five years after the first case of AIDS was recorded, the impact of the disease on children and young people is inspiring creative new partnerships to create an HIV-free generation.
Teenage fighter and survivor helps prevent AIDS among young people in Romania
BUCHAREST, Romania, 29 November 2006 – Between 1988 and 1990, approximately 10,000 children in Romania were diagnosed with HIV. Some 7,000 are still alive. Cristian Traicu, 18, is one of them.
Basketball stars and UNICEF team up for new HIV/AIDS television campaign
NEW YORK, USA, 27 November 2006 – In the run up to the 25th annual celebration of World AIDS Day on 1 December, the US-based National Basketball Association (NBA) and UNICEF today launched a new public service announcement campaign featuring 10 high-profile NBA and Women’s National Basketball Association stars.
African Development Forum set to focus on key role of young people
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 14 November 2006 – Young people from all over Africa will join UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, political leaders and entertainment stars here in the Ethiopian capital this week for the fifth African Development Forum.
Youth leaders speak out at African Development Forum
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 16 November 2006 – The fifth African Development Forum kicked off today with a youthful perspective on leadership, as hundreds of delegates arrived here in the Ethiopian capital to face tomorrow’s challenges.
Hip-hop star Zola named UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador at African Development Forum
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 17 November 2006 – Hip-hop star Zola – who has made his name as a rapper and actor from Soweto, South Africa – was named as a regional Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF today.
Former US President Clinton and Muppet Kami share video message about HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 24 November 2006 – In the run-up to World AIDS Day, 1 December, former US president Bill Clinton has joined Kami the Muppet to deliver a message about HIV and AIDS.
Malaysian youth centres help to keep children safe from HIV/AIDS
PENDANG KEDAH, Malaysia, 22 November 2006 – For many adolescents in Malaysia, the pressure to engage in high-risk behaviour is strong.
Angélique Kidjo raises HIV/AIDS awareness, and hope, in northern Uganda
LIRA DISTRICT, Uganda, 21 November 2006 – On a two-day official visit to northern Uganda, an area just emerging from conflict, renowned musician and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Angélique Kidjo spread the message of HIV prevention and testing in her unique way – bopping and hopping with the women and skipping and jumping with the girls.
UNICEF forms partnership with Baylor Initiative to combat paediatric AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 17 November 2006 – Children infected with HIV will receive more medical help, thanks to a new partnership between UNICEF and the Baylor International Paediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI).
Youth radio airs peer-to-peer HIV/AIDS education in Georgia
TBILISI, Georgia, 14 November 2006 – Despite a large global increase in HIV cases over the past decade, Georgia still has a low rate of HIV prevalence rate.
AIDS campaign launches in Mongolia
ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia, 13 November 2006 – The UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign was launched in Mongolia’s capital city last month, with opening remarks from the Chairperson of the National Authority for Children, Togtokhnyam Mijiddorj.
In Swaziland, grandmothers shoulder the burden of AIDS
BUSELENI, Swaziland, 10 November 2006 – At 64, Evelyn Simelani should be enjoying the benefits of her advanced years. She hoped her daughter would help her enjoy a comfortable retirement, to secure her financially, to give her emotional support.
Sports programme helps children fight AIDS and abuse in Zimbabwe
MUTARE, Zimbabwe, 9 November 2006 – Betty Mahomva, 9, ties her hair into a ponytail, stretches her legs and concentrates. She and her classmates are playing a game, but they are also learning an important lesson – how to avoid HIV/AIDS.
Ethiopian President and Olympic stars launch ‘Dream Campaign’ for orphaned children
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 7 November 2006 – Ethiopian Olympic star Haile Gebrselassie urged people to put on their running shoes to take part in a groundbreaking campaign for Ethiopia’s 6 million orphans.
Leading by example helps Madagascar keep HIV/AIDS at bay
MAROAMBIHY, Madagascar, 2 November 2006 – Here in Madagascar, political leaders take HIV tests in public, condoms are easily available and mobile testing units are sent to remote parts of the country.
South African cricketers instil hope in the lives of Indian children affected by HIV
AHMEDABAD, India, 27 October 2006 – South African cricket players Shaun Pollock, AB De Villiers, Andrew Hall and Jonty Rohdes recently visited India – not to play cricket games, but to spend time with children affected by HIV.
Campaign in solidarity with children affected by HIV/AIDS launched in Russia
MOSCOW, Russia, 26 October, 2006 – A year after the UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign began in Russia, a new media campaign called ‘I Care About Every Child!’ has been launched.
On the first anniversary of the AIDS campaign, living with HIV in Côte d’Ivoire
CÔTE D’IVOIRE, 25 October 2006 – There are close to 100 visitors waiting in the UNICEF-supported health centre today. Women and men, many with their babies and children, have come seeking many different services: HIV testing, counselling and medical treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS-related illnesses.
Digital Diary: Jamaican AIDS activist Kerrel McKay talks to other youth leaders
NEW YORK, USA, 19 October 2006 – In her latest Digital Diary, UNICEF Radio Youth Reporter and Jamaican AIDS activist Kerrel McKay interviews other young leaders she met at the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto.
Brazil and Jamaica unite against adolescent HIV/AIDS
JAMAICA/BRAZIL, 16 October 2006 – For over two decades Jamaica and Brazil have undertaken considerable efforts to get the HIV/AIDS epidemic under control.
Community education raises HIV/AIDS awareness in Papua, Indonesia
PAPUA, Indonesia, 29 September 2006 – Like many young people, 19-year-old Rifal (not his real name) never used to worry about AIDS. He saw it as a problem that only affected high-risk groups, such as intravenous drug users. His view changed in February 2006, when he discovered that he had contracted HIV.
Orphaned by AIDS in Zimbabwe
MURAMBINDA, Zimbabwe, 26 September 2006 – In a rundown pole and dagga hut, where the only piece of furniture is an old paraffin lamp, Mwaimbodei Chamutsa lives with her five grandchildren. They sleep side by side, partly through necessity (it is a one-room shack) and partly to ward off the cold.
China launches youth AIDS campaign with a global impact
BEIJING, China, 21 September 2006 – The global UNITE FOR CHILDREN UNITE AGAINST AIDS campaign was launched last week in China, the world’s most populous country.
Denmark: Sir Roger Moore urges executives to fight AIDS
COPENHAGEN, Denmark, 11 September 2006 – “Many of us have a strong desire to make a difference,” said Alfred Josefsen, one of Europe’s most successful business leaders, at a high-profile AIDS campaign event for corporate leaders in Copenhagen late last week.
FC Barcelona and UNICEF team up to help children affected by HIV/AIDS
NEW YORK, USA, 7 September 2006 – Fútbol Club Barcelona kicked off a new global alliance with UNICEF today at a press conference in New York. The partnership, benefiting children affected by HIV/AIDS in the developing world, will focus on children in Swaziland during its first year.
Tennis ace Roger Federer stars in video spot for HIV/AIDS campaign
NEW YORK, USA, 29 August 2006 – His bid for glory at the U.S. Open begins tomorrow, but Roger Federer has already served up an ace in the fight against AIDS with the release of a new public service announcement for UNICEF.
Taking the fight against HIV/AIDS into Islamic schools in East Java, Indonesia
PROBOLINGGO, Indonesia, 28 August 2006 – A call to prayer, instead of a school bell, signals the end of the morning session of classes at Zainul Hasan Islamic school in East Java.
Fighting AIDS and drug use in Bangladesh, one needle at a time
RAJSHAHI, Bangladesh, 25 August 2006 – Carrying a large umbrella to shield herself from the hot sun, Mosammat Sabera Yasmin walks along a narrow alley in a poor neighbourhood in this western Bangladeshi city.
Japanese children speak up to fight AIDS
YOKOHAMA, Japan, 24 August 2006 – A dozen UNICEF youth activists issued an appeal to fight AIDS at the AIDS Forum in Yokohama, an annual event promoting public awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention.
Summer camp serves AIDS-affected children and fights stigma in China
BEIJING, China, 23 August 2006 – Seventy children from eight Chinese provinces gathered last week at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People to celebrate the annual opening ceremony of ‘Growing Up Together Under the Sunshine’, a summer camp programme for children affected by AIDS.
‘We Are Together’: Traveling exhibit documents lives of children living with AIDS
NANNING, China, 21 August 2006 – A photo exhibition in China is tackling stigma and discrimination by putting a face on the AIDS pandemic.
AIDS 2006: Young people are key to world’s response
NEW YORK, USA, 18 August 2006 – Young people must be included in the world’s response to HIV and AIDS, delegates to the XVI International AIDS Conference in Toronto, Canada were told as they wrapped up their biennial meeting.
Africa’s orphans at higher risk of HIV, says report
TORONTO, Canada, 15 August 2006 – African children orphaned as a result of AIDS, especially adolescent girls and young women in the 15-24 age group, are at higher risk of HIV infection than other children, according to a report issued yesterday by UNICEF, UNAIDS and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
Digital Diary: Jamaican AIDS activist Kerrel McKay tells her story, her way
NEW YORK, USA, 15 August 2006 – For the past few months, Jamaican youth AIDS activist Kerrel McKay has been using a mini-disc recorder and microphone to record some of her thoughts and conversations for UNICEF Radio. Her entries are the latest in the UNICEF Radio and Voices of Youth Digital Diaries Project, which allows young people with compelling stories to represent their own experience and produce their own radio diaries.
AIDS 2006: Conflict makes girls and women even more vulnerable to HIV
TORONTO, Canada, 14 August 2006 – In times of conflict, girls and women are even more vulnerable to sexual violence, HIV and AIDS, according to experts dealing with displaced populations and refugees.
‘AIDS 2006’ conference begins: Time to deliver for children
TORONTO, Canada, 14 August 2006 – The world is doing more than ever to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS but even more needs to be done to protect the youngest and most vulnerable, delegates to the XVI International AIDS Conference were told yesterday in Toronto.
At Brazil summit, media leaders unite to fight HIV/AIDS in Latin America
RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil, 11 August 2006 – Twenty-two senior media executives from eight countries met in Rio de Janeiro this week for the first ever Global Media AIDS Initiative Summit of Latin American Media Leaders.
Young people prepare to be heard at ‘AIDS 2006’ global conference
TORONTO, Canada, 10 August 2006 – Young people will have more opportunity to influence the XVI International AIDS Conference (also known as ‘AIDS 2006’) than any of the previous gatherings, according to the organizers of the AIDS 2006 Youth Pre-conference.
New HIV testing method allows early diagnosis for infants in South Africa
MSELENI, South Africa, 9 August 2006 – A new method of testing for paediatric AIDS is saving the lives of babies and has led to more than four times the number of infants being treated with anti-retroviral medications (ARVs) here in northern Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa.
Cambodian theatre troupe raises AIDS awareness among young garment workers
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia, 3 August 2006 – Two actors in heavy make-up swagger drunkenly across the lot of a garment factory in Phnom Penh. Their antics draw raucous laughter from a growing crowd of young women who are taking a lunch break.
HIV/AIDS prevention is central theme at Brazil’s largest scouting meeting
BRASILIA, Brazil, 27 July 2006 – Over 400 Brazilian Boy Scouts and Girl Guides participated in a series of HIV/AIDS workshops during Jamboree III, the biggest scouting meeting in Brazil. The activities, which ran from 16-20 July, emphasized the importance of learning about and preventing HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.
A ‘Wind of Hope’ for two brothers orphaned by AIDS
ISIOLO, Kenya, 27 July 2006 – Siblings Anthony and Gabriel Koikoi are the best of friends; they can't afford not to be. Since both their parents died three years ago, the two brothers are all that is left of their family.
UN leaders meet drug companies on HIV/AIDS medications
NEW YORK, USA, 25 July 2006 – UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with top executives of nine of the world’s leading research-based and generic pharmaceutical companies to discuss how to work together to expand people’s access to HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, care and support in low and middle-income countries.
