2/22/2008

Contact: Robert Yule
202.448.8456
ryule@pedaids.org

Washington, D.C. – The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation welcomes the WHO’s efforts to address the issues of availability and access to safe and effective medicines for children worldwide. The Foundation has long been a leading advocate for children and drug safety in the United States, and was at the forefront of the recent reauthorization of the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA). The WHO’s “make medicines child size” campaign is another critical step toward providing children with essential medications that are suitable for their use.

Millions of children are put at serious risk every day because they are given doses or medicines which may not be effective, or in many cases, may even be dangerous for them. Others simply are not given treatment because no formulation suitable for children has been developed.

The WHO’s important new initiative will help speed access to child-appropriate medicines urgently needed to treat diseases and conditions such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, pneumonia, tuberculosis and diarrhea. The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation encourages the WHO and the pharmaceutical industry to collaborate on the development of more child-friendly strengths and dosage forms.

Moving forward, the Foundation looks forward to working with the WHO and other stakeholders to ensure that children’s health is put on an equal footing with that of adults.

###

About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is a worldwide leader in the fight against pediatric AIDS. Its innovative research programs, collaborative training initiatives, advocacy efforts, and rapidly expanding international prevention and treatment programs are bringing dramatic changes to the lives of children worldwide. For more information, please visit www.pedaids.org.