Global Community Should Support Campaign Aimed at Children Affected by HIV/AIDS, Editorial Says

The international community should provide "effective action and resources" to a new campaign launched by UNICEF, UNAIDS and other groups aimed at garnering funding and support for children affected by HIV/AIDS worldwide, a Khaleej Times editorial says. Although AIDS has "emerged as the greatest threat to the young," only a "small fraction" of funding pledged to fight the disease "actually goes to help them," the Times says. As much as 95% of children living with the disease worldwide do not receive treatment, according to the editorial. Therefore, both wealthy and developing countries should support the campaign -- called Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS -- because it aims to provide needed treatment, care and support for children affected by the disease (Khaleej Times, 10/28). The campaign also will focus on reducing the incidence of mother-to-child HIV transmission, curbing the spread of the virus among young people, and providing protection and emotional and financial support to children who have lost parents to AIDS-related causes (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 10/25). The threat posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic is "universal and demands [a] universal and united response from the international community," the editorial says, concluding that although the United Nations might need to "rework its approach and methods to deal with the threat," it can "do little if it is not adequately supported by the international community, particularly its richer members. The world cannot afford to lose the war on AIDS" (Khaleej Times, 10/28).