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UNICEF Vietnam |
Rishworth
Aviation has made a strong commitment to provide support
for UNICEF’s valuable work in the area of HIV/AIDS prevention
among children in Vietnam. The company believes that it is
important to demonstrate a sense of social responsibility
towards the communities in which it conducts its business.
Rishworth Aviation has benefited from strong business relationships
in Vietnam for many years. The company wanted to find a worthwhile
project in the country so that it could give something back
in return.
The Effect of AIDS on Children
The hidden face of AIDS
AIDS redefines childhood in a way that is unlike any other
disease. Around the world the pandemic threatens the childhood
of millions of children. For these infected children, AIDS
means growing up alone, growing up too fast, or not growing
up at all. In Vietnam, the number of children infected and
affected by HIV/AIDS increases daily. Most HIV infection occurs
in young people.
UNICEF Vietnam is fighting to put children and young people
at the heart of the fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS, and
to ensure that their rights to protection, care and support
are met.
How is UNICEF Helping?
UNICEF is working with the Government of Vietnam to help prevent children becoming infected by HIV/AIDS by:
- Preventing new infections.
We support Vietnam’s efforts to provide children and adolescents
with age and gender appropriate information and education
on HIV/AIDS, as well as the life skills that will enable
them to remain free from the infection. We also facilitate
young people’s access to youth-friendly health services
- Preventing HIV transmission from the mother
to the child during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding
Investing in the right prevention measures and medical treatments
can prevent unborn and very young children from becoming
infected with HIV through their HIV positive mothers.
- Providing paediatric treatment
HIV does not need to be a death sentence for those children
who are already infected. Proper medical treatment guarantees
a better quality of life free from disease. However,
only a small proportion of HIV infected children in Vietnam
receive such treatment.
- Offering protection, care and support for
children affected by HIV/AIDS
Children affected by HIV/AIDS have the right to education,
healthcare, nutrition and psychological and social support.
They often miss out because of stigma, fear and discrimination,
because their families are too poor or because there
is no social network to support them. UNICEF works to
support families, communities, social networks, civil
servants and religious leaders, to provide a safety net
to ensure that children affected by the disease are properly
supported and cared for.
- Giving children and young people a voice
Children and young people best understand their own needs.
They are also the most effective communicators of vital
life-saving messages to their peers. UNICEF supports their
participation in the fight against HIV/AIDS as a vital
element of a successful strategy.
Funds directed specially for HIV/AIDS work in Vietnam allow
UNICEF to provide a rapid and flexible response with minimal
administrative costs to one of the fastest growing threats
to Vietnam’s children. They allow UNICEF to save lives today
and to establish systems that will protect children in the
future.
How You Can Help
 If
you are interested in finding out more about the vital work
being done in this
area and what you can do to help support
it, please visit UNICEF’s website: www.unicef.org.nz
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