The number-one cause of death for children aged between 14 and 19 is HIV/AIDS, a Unicef research has established.
While releasing the report at a United Nations conference, Unicef Executive Director Anthony Lake said that the number of adolescent infections had doubled since the year 2000, and that if immediate remedy strategies were not employed then the situation would plunge to the worst.
“After all of the saved and improved lives thanks to prevention, treatment and care; after all of the battles won against prejudice and ignorance about this disease; after all of the wonderful milestones achieved, Aids is still the number two cause of death for those aged 10-19 globally – and number one in Africa,” Unicef Executive Director Anthony Lake said.
The reports said that the levels of infections had risen to see 29 new infections registered every hour among the teenagers, with Africa providing the bulk.
The report also disclosed that majority of those affected were girls, taking a 65 per cent portion of the total infections on the globe.
The report also said that in 2015, 75 per cent of new HIV infections among teenagers occurred in girls.