NEW YORK, NY (June, 2007): Early this summer, AID FOR AIDS International donated almost $100,000 worth of pediatric antiretroviral (ARV) medication to the governments of Guatemala, Belize, Panama, and El Salvador. This medication was donated directly to the Ministry of Health in each country and will be distributed by each country’s National AIDS Program. This donation represents the latest effort of AID FOR AIDS and its Universal Treatment Access Initiative to provide medication to populations living with HIV and AIDS in developing countries.

Donation Specifics. The Ministry of Health in Guatemala received more than 750 bottles of two types of pediatric antiretroviral medication. Because Guatemala has one of the largest epidemics in the region, and because they are currently experiencing a severe shortage in antiretroviral medication, this donation was of particular importance. According to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, only 50% of those who need antiretroviral medication in Guatemala are actually receiving such medication.

El Salvador received the largest donation, totaling more than 2,600 bottles of three different pediatric medications, valued at more than $13,000. It is estimated that only 5% of individuals receiving ARVs in El Salvador are children living with HIV (2). AID FOR AIDS hopes their donation can be used to initiate additional children to treatment, extending the lives of these young individuals.

Panama received 2,000 bottles of pediatric medication, totaling over $83,000 worth in treatment. This donation was worth considerably more than the other donations because the medication was brand name antiretrovirals, while the donations to El Salvador and Guatemala were generic formularies. The National AIDS Program in Belize also received brand name medication totaling almost $17,000 (USD). While the quantity of bottles in this donation was smaller-400 bottles- this was a very large donation considering the size of the epidemic in this country. UNAIDS and the WHO estimate there are less than 200 children living with HIV and AIDS in Belize (3).

For more information about the Universal Treatment Access Initiative at AID FOR AIDS International, contact Tobey Busch at (212) 337-8043 or tobey.busch@aidforaids.org

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(1) The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. Information available at: www.theglobalfund.org/programs/countrystats.aspx?CountryId=GUA&lang=en.
(2) The 2006 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic; Treatment and Care, p. 7
(3) Data drawn from the UNAIDS/WHO Epidemiological Fact Sheet- 2004 Update.