New UNAIDS Report Shows HIV-Positive Mothers Need Care and Treatment

Pamela Barnes, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, is calling on Congress to establish targets to give pregnant woman services to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission and to ensure that more of the people receiving care under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) are children. Barnes said, "There's no time to waste. Policy makers should scale up efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and to treat children and families affected by HIV/AIDS."

Barnes remarks come in response to the 2007 AIDS Epidemic Update from the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and World Health Organization (WHO). According to the UNAIDS report, there are 2.5 million children under the age of 15 living with HIV. In 2001, there were 1.5 million kids living with HIV. Approximately 420,000 children were newly infected in 2007.

According to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, 90% of kids with HIV were infected in the womb, at birth, or while breast feeding. This happens despite the existance of life saving medicines that if made more widely available would significantly reduce the likelihood of mother-to-child transmissions. "In the developing world most women still do not get the medicines that would keep them from transmitting HIV to their babies," said Barnes, "That's a terrible failure." Barnes notes that without treatment, half the children will die before their second birthday.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is working in the countries that are hardest hit to prevent mother-to-child transmission. One of its current initiatives is to increase the support given to HIV infected pregnant women and children under the PEPFAR.

The PEPFAR was announced by President Bush in 2003. This $15 billion, five year plan focuses upon combating the global HIV/AIDS pandemic through prevention, treatment, and care services in the most affected countries of the world and through funding bilateral programs. The goals of the PEPFAR are to prevent seven million new HIV infections, treat two million HIV affected people; and care for 10 millions people infected by HIV/AIDS.

Despite the fact that children account for 16% of the new HIV infections, they only account for 9% of those receiving treatment under PEPFAR. The foundation wants this number raised to 15% to keep pace with infection rates. In addition the foundation wants Congress to set a five year target to give 80 percent of pregnant women services to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

Sources:
Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, "New UNAIDS Report Offers Encouraging News, But Most HIV-Positive Mothers Still Not Getting the Care and Treatment They Need." PR NewsWire.

"The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief." Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

"Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission." Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.

"2007 AIDS Epidemic Update." United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS and World Health Organization.