Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation Announces $1.2 Million In New Grants For Its International Program To Prevent Mother-To-Child Transmission Of HIV In The Developing World

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
Monday, 18 February 2002

Program Estimated to Reach More Than 250,000 Women in Next Two Years

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation announces more than $1.2 million in new grants for its international program to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the developing world. These new grants provide funding for the expansion of current programs, the implementation of new programs, and the development of future programs. These grants extend the reach of the Foundation into Eastern Europe and additional regions in Africa, bringing the Foundation's site total to more than 100 sites in the following 13 countries: Angola, Cameroon, Congo, Kenya, Malawi, Russia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These sites have already reached more than 50,000 women with counseling and the offer of HIV testing and treatment intervention, and are estimated to bring HIV testing and treatment interventions to more than 250,000 women in the next two years.

"Support by private foundations has been critical in the international response to HIV/AIDS from the beginning, and while we are pleased with the initial success of programs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, more can and must be done," said Kate Carr, president and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. "The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has taken a leadership role in addressing the global pandemic. Already we have reached more than 50,000 women with counseling, and results of the program will be presented at three international meetings this year."

The Foundation funds three types of grants designed to support sites at various stages of execution. The first, planning grants, provide initial support to sites that wish to begin mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) programs but do not have the infrastructure or preliminary information necessary to begin implementation. This funding allows a site to gather data, formulate plans for testing and counseling, train personnel, establish collaborative relationships, and ultimately develop full implementation programs within a year. Implementation grants help sites to initiate active programs to prevent MTCT. Funded projects are closely monitored and evaluated, and results are often instrumental in determining future policy for nations initiating large scale MTCT prevention programs. Expansion grants help existing implementation sites to expand to other health care facilities in local provinces or districts.

The new grants funded by the Foundation include planning grants in Luanda, Angola and St. Petersburg/Leningrad Russia; implementation grants in Kericho, Kenya and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo; and expansion grants in Northwest Province, Republic of Cameroon and Ministry of Health, Uganda.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's international program to reduce MTCT of HIV in the developing world was initiated in September of 1999. The project allows international health care sites, non-governmental organizations, and community-based organizations to apply for funds that will help implement programs to prevent MTCT of HIV. It also provides funding for community mobilization and training of health care workers, HIV counseling and testing, antiretroviral prevention regimens and infant feeding education. Experience gained from these sites will be helpful in determining policy for the future for nations that are initiating MTCT prevention programs.

More than 2,000 children are infected with HIV worldwide every day. HIV transmission from mother to child can occur during pregnancy, during labor and delivery and through breastmilk. Reducing MTCT of HIV is vital, particularly in areas of the world most affected such as sub-Saharan Africa, where up to 30% of pregnant women are infected with HIV and 25-35% of their children will be born infected. Other regions, including India, China and the Caribbean will soon be facing similar statistics if immediate action is not taken. While government programs are beginning to examine MTCT in resource poor nations, there are inadequate resources for health care needs. Meanwhile, over 800,000 children continue to become infected with HIV each year. The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's international program is designed to mobilize a worldwide response to the global pediatric AIDS epidemic and take immediate action to prevent infants from becoming infected with HIV.

By bringing simple, yet effective, interventions to mothers and newborns in developing countries, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation provides funding to implement programs that stand to dramatically reduce the rate of MTCT. A joint Uganda/U.S. study showed that one such intervention, the drug nevirapine, reduces transmission of HIV from a mother to her newborn by 47%, and by 41% for babies that are breastfed through 18 months of age. Nevirapine is administered in a single dose to the mother at the onset of labor and in a single dose to the baby in its first three days of life. The entire course cost less than $4, and the drug is now available in many places free or at a reduced cost.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is the leading worldwide nonprofit organization dedicated to identifying, funding, and conducting pediatric HIV/AIDS research as well as promoting global education, awareness and compassion about HIV/AIDS in children. In addition, the Foundation is committed to working on other serious and life threatening diseases facing children through the Glaser Pediatric Research Network. The Network brings together five of the nation's pre-eminent academic medical centers in an unprecedented collaboration that will accelerate better treatments for seriously ill children, help train the next generation of pediatric clinical investigators, and serve as a united voice to advocate policies that improve children's health worldwide. Since 1988, the Foundation has raised more than $130 million to ensure that children are at the forefront of every scientific breakthrough.

For more information, or to contact Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, see their website at: www.pedaids.org