Situation Review Women, Children & the HIV Epidemic in the Pacific

An estimated 1,700 children under the age of 15 are infected by HIV around the globe everyday. Many of these are young children, infected at birth by mothers who are unaware of their HIV status. A host of social and economic factors are exacerbating the vulnerability of young women and if they are already living with HIV, they often suffer more sever stigma and discrimination than males.

The Pacific Islands are not being spared. Though data are limited, 1,028 HIV cases have been reported in the Pacific Island countries (excluding Papua New Guinea). Although the total number is still low compared to other countries in the region, the trend in new infections is a major cause for alarm.