Perspectives on the Pediatric HIV/AIDS Pandemic: Catalyzing Access of Children to Care and Treatment

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

The successes of the United States and other developed countries in the prevention and treatment of pediatric HIV/AIDS have not been replicated in the developing world, where children continue to become infected with HIV and die from HIV/AIDS at astounding rates. Children are underrepresented among recipients of antiretroviral therapy in almost every setting worldwide where treatment programs have been established. The barriers to scaling up HIV/AIDS care and treatment globally are substantial. Nevertheless, nearly a decade after the introduction of pediatric highly active antiretroviral therapy in the United States, the opportunity finally exists to provide treatment to huge numbers of HIV-infected children in the developing world, changing forever the way that pediatric HIV/AIDS is perceived and managed. We propose the creation of a Clinical Centers of Excellence Network and Pediatric AIDS Corps of US pediatric health professionals, increased support for pediatric research relevant to resource-poor settings, commitment of the US government and others to proportionate funding for pediatric HIV/AIDS care and treatment, expanded availability of pediatric antiretroviral drug formulations, and a renewed commitment to collaborative partnerships as practical steps that can be taken to dramatically expand access of HIV-infected children and families in the developing world to health-restoring, life-prolonging care and treatment.