Children orphaned by HIV and AIDS

More than 13 million children around the world have already lost their mother, father, or both parents to AIDS. Unfortunately, the number orphaned by AIDS is far from being the final total; it is expected to increase to 25 million by 2010.1

Since the first clinical evidence of AIDS was reported, more than two decades ago, HIV has infected 60 million people. Every day, 14 000 new HIV infections add to the epidemic's staggering impact on the health and social and economic stability of nations.2 In 2001 alone, an estimated 5 million people were infected, 800 000 of whom were children.3

If the AIDS epidemic had not occurred, orphan rates would be declining in Africa, according to the report on the global HIV and AIDS epidemic. In fact, the report estimates that the number of orphans from all …