According to the Joint U.N. Programme on HIV/AIDS, the number of children with HIV is decreasing in parts of the world that consist of the most new infections.

This shows that “The Global Plan Toward Elimination of New HIV Infections Among Children by 2015 and Keeping Their Mothers Alive,” a program to get antiretroviral medication to pregnant women, is progressing. This program targets 22 countries that make up 90% of the world’s pediatric infections. The medicine prevents the transfer of the virus to their children.

Zambia, Malawi, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Ghana, and Ethiopia have reduced the number of HIV infections in children by 50% or more since 2009. Ghana has experienced a 73% decline, while South Africa experienced a 63% decline.

Only half of all breast-feeding women living with HIV or their children receive these medicines to prevent transmission. Early HIV diagnosis in children must also be provided.

The target of the program is to decrease the number of mother-to-child transmissions by 90% and to reduce the number of  AIDS-related maternal deaths by 50% by 2015.

“Now we must all continue working together to see the day when no children are born with HIV,” said U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Eric P. Goosby. The goal is “within our reach.”

Consult your doctor if you have any other health care or medical concerns.