HIV and AIDS may
leave 25 million children orphaned by 2010, said a
prominent African medical expert on Tuesday. Austin
Omoigberale released the figures during the Nigerian
Medical Association's annual conference in Yenagoa.
Currently, there
are 13 million children orphaned by the disease,
according to the World Health Organization.
"AIDS accounts
for 7.7% of mortality worldwide and 19% in infant
mortality," Omoigberale said. "Many children are
infected daily with the virus by their mothers in
developing countries through mother-to-child
transmission during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and
breast feeding." (The Advocate)