Foundation Blog
News, commentary, and voices in the efforts to eliminate HIV and AIDS in children worldwide.
Posted by
Agnes Mahomva
Harare, Zimbabwe
January 24, 2011
(Photo: James Pursey for EGPAF)
Just a few days ago, the Foundation launched an exciting new partnership in Zimbabwe that will dramatically expand its efforts to eliminate pediatric AIDS throughout the country.
The Foundation's work in Zimbabwe began ten years ago at just three sites, working to bring critical services to prevent HIV-positive pregnant women from passing the virus to their children. Now, a decade later, alongside additional partners, the Foundation works in 815 sites and has reached more than 800,000 women with prevention, care, and treatment services.
Click past the jump to hear Foundation Country Director for Zimbabwe, Agnes Mahomva, talk more about the exciting new partnership, and the real possibility of eliminating pediatric AIDS in her country.
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Posted by
Evan Von Leer
Washington, D.C.
January 21, 2011
In 2002, only three percent of HIV-positive pregnant women were accessing the critical services to prevent transmission of the virus to their babies. Flash forward nearly a decade and the progress is impressive. With the help of the Foundation's USAID-funded Call to Action project, we are now reaching 45 percent of these women.
Earlier this week, IRIN/PlusNews interviewed Foundation country director for Malawi about this progress and what is in store for her country in the future.
Click past the jump for more information and links to the IRIN/PlusNews article.
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Posted by
Maurice Adams
Johannesburg, South Africa
January 17, 2011
-zim-spotlight-photo-(James-Pursey))
(Photo: James Pursey)At the start of a new year, many of us reflect on the past and consider what the future might bring. At the beginning of 2011, I enter my eighth year with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. It’s been a period of dramatic growth for us, and I’ve seen the positive impact of our work for countless children and mothers, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. So, at the beginning of this new year, I gave some thought as to why the Foundation does what it does, why we are committed to the prevention of pediatric HIV transmission, and why we are so involved in Africa.
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Posted by
Stephanie Bowen
Washington, D.C.
January 13, 2011
When the first AIDS diagnosis was made in 1981, we knew nothing about about what caused it. Now, nearly 30 years later, antiretroviral treatment has provided hope to the estimated 33.4 million people living with HIV around the world.
To mark this important milestone, CNN's Anderson Cooper will anchor a special episode of AC360° tomorrow (1/14) at 9:00 p.m., "Hope Survives: 30 Years of AIDS." Guests for the special include Sir Elton John, Susan Sarandon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and other celebrity activists.
We'll be watching, we hope you can, too.
Continue past the jump for more information.
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(Photo: Olivier Asselin)
There’s more good news on the HIV prevention front, and a former Elizabeth Glaser scientist is connected to these positive developments.
Results from a study released last week advance our knowledge in the field of microbicides, and increase our hope of finding a means for women to protect themselves from HIV.
In a controlled research model using a small number of monkeys, the use of a gel – containing a combination of a novel anti-HIV drug and a chemical compound with antiviral activity – up to 24 hours prior to exposure to the virus was 100% protective against infection.
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Posted by
Eric Kilongi
Nairobi, Kenya
January 4, 2011
Thuso's motorcycle outside a traditional
Lesotho home. (Photo: EGPAF)
As preparation for a recent 20/20 episode featuring the Foundation’s work in Lesotho, Regional Communications Officer Eric Kilongi met the pony rider Potso in his village in the mountains. He learned more about Potso’s work delivering HIV drugs and other supplies for the Foundation on horseback, and also met the other half of this unusual delivery team: motorcycle rider Thuso.
A good-humored Rastafarian working for the Riders for Health program, Thuso delivers important blood samples brought from mountain clinics to the district hospital.
Click past the jump to meet Thuso, and to see what motivates him as he races against the clock – and along the region’s curvy roads – delivering health services on the back of a motorcycle.
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