U.N. report says more HIV testing can save babies' lives

By Louis Charbonneau

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - The United Nations on Monday urged countries across the world to expand screening of newborn infants exposed to the virus that causes AIDS, saying it could save the lives of countless children.

"Without appropriate treatment, half of children with HIV will die from an HIV-related cause by their second birthday," Ann Veneman, executive director of the U.N. children's fund UNICEF, said about a new U.N. AIDS report launched in New York on the 20th World AIDS Day.

"Survival rates are up to 75 percent higher for HIV-positive newborns who are diagnosed and begin treatment within their first 12 weeks," she said in a statement.

The report said there was visible progress in the fight against AIDS -- some 3 million people worldwide are currently receiving treatment and the number of new infections and AIDS deaths has dropped. But negative trends remain.

The report -- prepared by UNICEF, the U.N. AIDS program UNAIDS, the World Health Organisation, and the U.N. Population Fund -- warned that pregnant women were not receiving sufficient counselling and other services necessary to teach them about contraception and safer infant feeding.

It said many children less than a year old were dying of AIDS-related illnesses before they are even tested for HIV.

But there are ways of dealing with infants that have the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, or AIDS.

The report cited the example of South Africa, where babies born to HIV-positive mothers were being tested for HIV at six weeks of age. Many of those who test positive receive anti-retroviral treatment, it said.