Home > News

Rep. McDermott Introduces Global Pediatric HIV/AIDS Prevent and Treatment Act of 2008
February 12, 2008
For Immediate Release

Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), a medical doctor and senior Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, joined by Representative Kay Granger (R-Texas) introduced The Global Pediatric HIV/AIDS Preventionion and Treatment Act of 2008, to strengthen the U.S. commitment to the eradication of the disease in newborn children.

“Every day more than 1,000 children are born into this world infected with HIV and it doesn’t have to be that way,” Rep. McDermott said, adding: “As many as 90% of the HIV-infected babies are born in Africa and we can lead the way to achieving the birth of an HIV-free generation within five years.”

The legislation provides a comprehensive, five year strategy to prevent new HIV infections in children and ensure that that the treatment of children infected with HIV keeps pace with their infection rate.  It would accomplish this by building on the successful existing PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) programs aimed at reducing mother to child transmission of HIV and AIDS. 

McDermott said the annual reauthorization process for the PEPFAR programs represents an important opportunity for Congress to strengthen the original goals and mission of PEPFAR, which included the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission services. 

With no medical intervention, HIV positive mothers have a 25% to 30% chance of passing the virus on to their babies during pregnancy and childbirth.  Yet, just one dose of an ARV drug given to the mother at the onset of labor and once to the baby during the first three hours of life reduces transmission of HIV by almost 50%.

McDermott said the loss of life is a staggering – and preventable - tragedy.  “Without proper care and treatment, half of all newly infected children will die before their 2nd birthday and 75% will not see their 5th birthday,” McDermott said. 
           
The major provisions of the legislation include:

Establish a target requiring that by 2013 15% of those receiving treatment under PEPFAR be children, to simply keep pace with the rate of infection.

Establish a five year target for Preventing Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) efforts that by 2013, in most affected countries, 80% of pregnant women receive HIV counseling and testing, with all of HIV positive receiving ARV medication. 

The legislation also requires integration of prevention, care and treatment with PMTCT services in order to improve outcomes for HIV affected women and families and to improve the continuity of care.

Rep. McDermott credited the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation for its pioneering work in caring for thousands of children around the world and furthering efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.  Their statement about this issue can be found here:

http://www.pedaids.org/News/AdvocacyNews/Press%20Release/Foundation
%20Praises%20Representat.aspx.

According to McDermott, the foundation’s recommendations for strengthening PEPFAR became an integral part of his legislation.  Similar legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Gordon Smith (R-OR).

McDermott said he hoped the combined House and Senate efforts would focus enough attention on the issue to ensure prompt consideration and passage.  “While we still do not have a vaccine or cure for HIV/AIDS, and we must keep up medical research until we do, we are not helpless to help newborns,” Rep. McDermott said. 

“We do have a very effective prevention strategy at our disposal and we should use it aggressively until the sun rises on a day when not a single new baby is born into this world with HIV/AIDS.”