UN-backed guide seeks to prevent girls’ HIV infection

With some 7,000 young women becoming HIV-positive on a daily basis, a new United Nations-backed guide released today aims to curb the spread of the virus among girls.

At the publication’s launch in Mexico City against the backdrop of the XVII International AIDS Conference, Purnima Mane of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) said that “girls and young women face double vulnerability, and double efforts are needed to protect them.”

The guide, “Make it Matter” was produced by UNFPA, the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Young Positives.

It centres around three goals recognized as key components of a successful response to HIV/AIDS: enhancing access to sexual and reproductive health services for girls and young women; increasing socio-economic opportunities for them; and bringing an end to child marriage.

“Make it Matter” drawing on successful national programmes for HIV prevention in such countries as Viet Nam, South Africa and India.