Important Step Forward in Treatment for Children with HIV/AIDS

This week the launch of the Pediatric HIV Treatment Initiative (PHTI) marks a critical step toward better and more effective treatment options for the more than 3.4 million children around the world living with HIV/AIDS.    The gap between treatment for adults and children has been significant.   Of the 3.2 million children with HIV/AIDS—with 700 children newly infected daily– just 647,000 are receiving antiretroviral treatment (ART).

Appropriate and affordable medicines are urgently needed to simplify treatment for more children living with HIV.   The few current medicines that are available for children are very difficult for these children to take because of the bitter taste and the large number of pills that must be consumed per day.

 “The global epidemic of children with HIV that has largely been hidden and ignored for decades is finally beginning to receive the attention and action it deserves.”

PHTI is a project of UNITAID, Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, and the Medicines Patent Pool.   The key objective is to facilitate development of, and accelerate access to, new and  better-adapted pediatric ARVS and formulations to improve treatment for all children living with HIV.

“Children’s AIDS Fund International welcomes the new PHTI initiative as a long-overdue and meaningful  step toward providing HIV/AIDS treatment that children have been denied, “ said CAFI President  Anita Smith, who attended the launch in Washington, DC.   “The global epidemic of children with HIV that has largely been hidden and ignored for decades is finally beginning to receive the attention and action it deserves.”