A new year is always a time for change. But this new year is especially significant for me personally, as I joined the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation as President and CEO on January 4.

It is an exciting time to be here. The world continues to unite behind extraordinary international commitments to curtail the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and more and more of the world’s leaders recognize that creating a generation free of HIV must be our collective priority.

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief – PEPFAR – just released its new five-year strategy, which includes significant focus on improving access in partner countries to prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) services and pediatric treatment. UNAIDS and Global Fund also both made renewed commitments to PMTCT services last year. These high-level commitments are important if we want to eliminate pediatric HIV/AIDS.

Ensuring effective collaboration among partner organizations is even more critical to ensure that we maximize resources and reach as many women and children as possible around the world. A good example of just such a partnership was a recently-released report on PMTCT, drafted by world-renowned leaders in the field – including experts from the Foundation, UNICEF, CDC, USAID, NIH, and Columbia University, among others. The report, mandated by Congress, provides insight on the successes and challenges of PMTCT to date, and recommendations for accelerating widespread and rapid implementation of this critical HIV prevention method.

Yet there are still many challenges ahead – which we must face head-on. And how we confront them will directly shape the next five years of this epidemic.

The biggest challenge, of course, is funding. The global economic downturn has meant a slowdown in global investment for HIV/AIDS assistance - with U.S. funding for global HIV/AIDS programs increasing only 3.5 percent last year, and further increases in funding uncertain at best.

Another major issue for us will be implementation of the upcoming WHO HIV prevention and treatment guidelines, which will include a new emphasis on earlier treatment for all eligible HIV-positive pregnant women and extended duration of antiretroviral prophylaxis to protect HIV-exposed infants through the breastfeeding period. These changes would prioritize pregnant women for treatment, and substantially increase the number of mothers eligible to receive lifesaving treatment. The Foundation welcomes these new guidelines, as they will result in improved maternal health and dramatically increase the chances of protecting infants from HIV. We also know that these guidelines will not be effective unless governments move swiftly on implementation to make them a reality for service providers and patients around the globe.

At the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, we stand ready to work with our partners and face these challenges directly in order to increase the number of children and their families receiving quality HIV/AIDS services. Please join me, and the rest of the Foundation around the world, as we move even closer to creating a generation free of HIV.


Sincerely,

Charles Lyons
President and CEO


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