Meeting needs of children living with, affected by HIV 'central' to PEPFAR mission

Sep 27 2012

"Meeting the needs of children, including both children living with HIV and those affected by the disease in other ways, is not peripheral to PEPFAR's mission -- it is central," U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Ambassador Eric Goosby writes in USAID's "DipNote" blog, adding, "It's a responsibility, and an opportunity as part of our push toward an AIDS-free generation." Goosby discusses how PEPFAR is working to expand HIV care and treatment; implement prevention programs, including preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission; promote resiliency among children "by reducing adversity, and building services and systems"; and address "the socio-emotional effects of the epidemic." He continues, "But it goes without saying that PEPFAR cannot meet all the needs on our own. Achieving a generation that is truly free from AIDS and its devastating effects requires that we all support families and communities together," and he describes how different stakeholders can work together toward the goal (9/25).