Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1997. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PR Newswire; Monday December 1, 12:00 pm EST
More children are contracting HIV than ever before, and there is no sign that the infection rate is slowing. Last year 400,000 children under the age of 15 became infected with HIV worldwide and by the end of 1997, UNAIDS estimates that one million children worldwide will be living with HIV. Making matters worse, children do not have access to all of the life-saving treatments available to adults. Of the 11 drugs currently approved for the treatment of HIV/AIDS, only six of them are approved and formulated for children and there are no approved protease inhibitors available for newborns or infants. Adolescents currently represent 25% of new HIV infections in the United States, meaning two adolescents are infected every hour. Women of childbearing age also make up an ever-increasing population of people contracting HIV and run the risk of passing the virus to their children during pregnancy, delivery, or breastfeeding.
"The focus on children this year for World AIDS Day is a focus the Foundation has dedicated its work to for the past nine years," said Susie Zeegen, co-founder of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. "We have come so far but with new infections in children rising dramatically, we still have so much more to accomplish. Children must not be forgotten; they must be afforded the same life-sustaining opportunities and research as adults."
In conjunction with World AIDS Day, the Foundation announced it has enhanced its name to become The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation as a way of reaffirming the vision, passion and dedication Elizabeth Glaser inspired in co-founding the Foundation.
The Foundation also selected this day to honor another extraordinary individual, First Lady of the United States of America, Hillary Rodham Clinton, with its first "Commitment to Children Award."
"Hillary embodies Elizabeth's dedication and compassion in working tirelessly to improve the lives of children," said Paul Glaser, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. "Her ongoing work will provide a healthier future for all children by giving them a voice and focusing the nation's attention on urgent health issues."
The World AIDS Day event began with a play based on the words of HIV- infected young people about what it is like to be a child living with HIV/AIDS and was followed by a question and answer session with HIV-infected children. In addition, Mary Steenburgen officially accepted her new position as the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation national spokesperson. Cast members from the Broadway musical, "Bring in Da Noise Bring in Da Funk," concluded the event with a special performance from their show.
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation is the leading national non-profit organization dedicated to identifying, funding and conducting pediatric HIV/AIDS research. The Foundation's goals include reducing HIV transmission from an HIV-infected mother to her newborn, prolonging and improving the lives of children living with HIV, eliminating HIV in infected children and promoting awareness and compassion about HIV/AIDS.
SOURCE: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
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