1/16/2008

Contact: Beatrice Karanja — Nairobi, Kenya
bkaranja@pedaids.org

Contact: Robert Yule — Washington, D.C.
202-448-8456
ryule@pedaids.org

Harare, Zimbabwe—A new HIV/AIDS initiative was launched today in Zimbabwe by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), with $12.5 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The initiative is expected to dramatically increase access for women and children in Zimbabwe to vital HIV prevention services.

The Zimbabwe Family AIDS Initiatives (FAI) will expand the national prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program, providing greater access to prevention and treatment services for pregnant women and infants in Zimbabwe.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEFPAR) has provided $12.5 million over five years, while an additional U.S. $2 million dollars has been provided by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID), marking the first collaboration between DFID and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. The new initiative is also supported by other donors such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Johnson & Johnson.

A colorful launch ceremony at Murewa Council grounds in Zimbabwe was attended by Foundation President and CEO Pamela W. Barnes, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health and Child Welfare Dr. David Parirenyatwa, U.S. Ambassador James McGee, and the USAID Mission Director for Zimbabwe Ms. Karen Freeman. Also in attendance were other government officials, donors, United Nations agencies, and international and local AIDS service organizations.

In his remarks, U.S. Ambassador McGee highlighted the successful collaborative efforts that have been supported by the U.S. government and its implementing partners.

“The United States will continue to join and assist Zimbabweans in the battle against HIV/AIDS,” said Ambassador McGee. “It will take commitment and strong leadership to overcome the challenges that we are all facing. And, together, in strong partnership, we will make a difference.”

The Foundation has been working closely with Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MOHCW) since 2001 to reduce the number of new pediatric HIV infections and eradicate AIDS in children in Zimbabwe. The Foundation and its three implementing partners – JF Kapnek Trust, the Organization for Public Health Interventions and Development (OPHID), and the Zimbabwe AIDS Prevention Project – have been providing direct support for PMTCT service provision to more than 330 MOHCW health facilities in more than 24 districts in Zimbabwe. Through their programs, more than 280,000 pregnant women have gained access to PMTCT services. About 34,000 women living with HIV have been identified within the program, and the majority of these women and their infants have received vital medicines to prevent passing on the virus from mother to child.

Barnes drew attention to these successes in the fight against pediatric AIDS, and also underscored the urgent need that remains. Only one-third of HIV-positive pregnant women in Zimbabwe are currently receiving the services that can protect their babies from the virus. As a result, more than 17,300 children each year become infected in Zimbabwe.

“Our efforts have real implications,” said Barnes. “If we reached all pregnant women in Zimbabwe who are HIV-positive, we could prevent thousands of infections each year.”

The FAI program will provide technical and financial resources to the MOHCW to enhance national efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The initiative will directly support the National AIDS & TB Unit and PMTCT sites throughout the country, with the goal of helping 460,000 pregnant women gain access to important PMTCT anti-retroviral medications. In addition, the FAI program will work with the MOHCW in undertaking important operational research to identify innovative solutions to challenges that the national PMTCT program still faces today.

USAID Director Freemen commended the collaborative nature of the relationship between the FAI and the MOHCW.

“The successes that have been achieved through the EGPAF program are a culmination of a multitude of efforts by the USG, EGPAF and its partners, other donors such as DFID, the Expanded Support Program, the MOHCW, and the thousands of health care workers whose dedication to patient care and service sustains these programs,” said Freeman.

Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Health and Child Welfare has focused on a comprehensive approach that includes prevention, treatment, care, and support for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Working together with the Foundation and other donors, the MOHCW has facilitated an improvement in the quality and accessibility of PMTCT services for pregnant women in public facilities.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Health Dr. David Parirenyatwa acknowledged the long-standing support that the United States has provided toward the strengthening of health care service delivery in Zimbabwe. He specifically commended financial support for strengthening PMTCT services in health centers throughout the country.

The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years. For more information about USAID and its HIV/AIDS programs in Zimbabwe, visit http://www.usaid.gov/our_work/global_health/aids/Countries/africa/zimbabwe.html.

Currently working at more than 2,300 health facilities and in 18 countries, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is a global leader supporting children and families in their fight against HIV/AIDS. To learn more about the Foundation’s work in Zimbabwe, visit http://www.pedaids.org/OurWork/InternationalPrograms/Zimbabwe.aspx.

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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.