The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Launches New Project to Fight HIV/AIDS Worldwide

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Johanna Harvey
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Racine Tucker-Hamilton
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Launches New Project to Fight HIV/AIDS Worldwide
Project will offer support and expertise to health ministries to improve HIV/AIDS services

October 7, 2013—Washington, D.C.—The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) is pleased to announce the launch of a new HIV/AIDS technical assistance project, funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). EGPAF will offer technical support for health system strengthening and service delivery in its three key areas: prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, adult HIV care and treatment, and pediatric HIV care and treatment. This project highlights the evolution of development assistance worldwide toward building local capacity and empowering governments to effectively implement HIV/AIDS programs.

“This funding represents a transformative shift, not only for EGPAF, but for development assistance programs around the world,” said Nicholas Hellmann, M.D., executive vice president of medical and scientific affairs at EGPAF. “It will reinforce EGPAF’s technical leadership in global health as country ownership of HIV programs continues to expand.”

This project will be implemented in countries currently supported by PEPFAR and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).

EGPAF is one of the largest and most successful implementers of PMTCT services and HIV treatment programs for adults and children globally. It has also established well-developed technical assistance approaches for a wide range of areas, such as health system strengthening, strategic information, quality improvement, community engagement, research, organizational development, and maternal, newborn, and child health.

“We are proud to offer EGPAF’s large pool of technical experts from around the world to support this project,” said R.J. Simonds, M.D., EGPAF’s vice president of program innovation and policy. “Our cadre of solution-oriented professionals will provide the leadership and expertise necessary to help country governments optimize, expand, and sustain their HIV/AIDS programs.”

EGPAF has extensive experience managing large projects funded by PEPFAR through U.S. government agencies. EGPAF led the $534 million CDC-funded Project HEART  under Track 1.0 and currently implements 31 projects for U.S. government, private, and multi-lateral donors.

“EGPAF looks forward to leveraging its 25 years of experience and broad geographic and programmatic reach for this new project,” said Charles Lyons, EGPAF president and CEO. “Our long-standing relationships with PEPFAR, CDC, and ministries of health will optimize this new project’s impact as we work toward an AIDS-free generation.”

Funding for the project’s first year is expected to be more than U.S. $3 million with additional funding anticipated for the next five years.  EGPAF currently provides country-based technical assistance at the facility, community, district, and national levels, and supports HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention projects in 14 countries.

About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

EGPAF is a global leader in the fight against pediatric HIV/AIDS, and has reached more than 17 million women with services to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies. It currently works at more than 6,800 sites and in 15 countries to implement prevention, care, and treatment services; to further advance innovative research; and to execute global advocacy activities that bring dramatic change to the lives of millions of women, children, and families worldwide. For more information, visit pedaids.org.