Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation Applauds South Africa's Plan to Provide HIV Antiretroviral Drugs as Part of National HIV/AIDS Response: San Francisco based AIDS Organization Provides Key Technical Support to Effort

Business Wire - November 19, 2003

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation, the international arm of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, today applauded the South African government's landmark decision to integrate HIV antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) into its HIV care response, an action that included the direct involvement of Pangaea's staff. Over the past several months, Pangaea professionals have collaborated closely with the South African government as it developed a comprehensive strategy to make ARV treatment available to the country's 5.3 million people living with HIV and AIDS.

"The South Africa ARV treatment and care plan is thorough, pragmatic and bold," said Pangaea's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Eric Goosby, who led an HIV treatment and care clinical advisory team as part of the plan's development process. "The plan will enhance not just HIV care but also overall general care delivery across South Africa's national health system."

Working through the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation as part of a multidisciplinary technical assistance team, Pangaea's clinical care and management systems experts collaborated with a select South African government National Task Team to develop a plan that focused on expanding the current public health delivery system to provide comprehensive HIV treatment and care with ARVs.

"To experience firsthand the dedication, professionalism and compassion of our South African colleagues as they grappled with this formidable challenge was an inspiring and highly instructive experience," commented Pangaea's President, Pat Christen, who is also executive director of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation. Christen worked closely with the National Task Team in providing project management support during the plan's development process. "Pangaea's focus was to link quality HIV treatment and care with sound management systems essential for a durable effort."

"No other country in the world, including the United States, has ever attempted to provide accessible, comprehensive ARV treatment and care on this scale to all of its people in need," said Goosby. "I believe South Africa is more than equal to this challenge."

The Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation is an affiliate of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and was established to broaden access to HIV antiretroviral drugs in the developing world and to support the development of an effective HIV vaccine. To learn more about Pangaea visit www.pgaf.org and www.sfaf.org.

CONTACT: Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation

Redge W. Norton, 415-487-3071 or 415-987-4043

Greenough Communications

Sarah M. McAuley, 415-434-3200, ext. 16

SOURCE: Pangaea Global AIDS Foundation

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