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Inside this Edition:
Kenya: Kenyan Family Sees “Shining Light” Through PEPFAR [more]
World TB Day: PEPFAR is leading a unified U.S. Government response to address global TB/HIV. [more]
World Water Day: PEPFAR partner, PlayPumps International, is working to bring clean drinking water to 100 communities in sub-Saharan Africa in 100 days. [more]
International Women’s Day: Secretary Rice recognizes PEPFAR. [more]
April Sneak Peek:
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Update on the 2007 HIV/AIDS Implementers’ Meeting, “Scaling Up Through Partnerships.” Find out more about the meeting scheduled for June 16-19, 2007, in Kigali, Rwanda. Need more information? www.hivimplementers.com | |
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2007 Country Profiles |
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Visit PEPFAR.gov to read and download the latest country profiles. | | |
Kenyan Family Sees “Shining Light” Through PEPFAR
When asked if they would share their story with workers for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Emergency Plan/PEPFAR) Joyce and David enthusiastically stated yes. They wanted to share their story because of their deep appreciation for the life changing PEPFAR-supported services provided for their family—what David now refers to as his “shining light in the world.” They hope that by sharing their story, more families will seek HIV testing and support services.
Joyce, 27, and David, 29, live in a secluded village in rural Kenya with their two children Emmanuel, 10 months old, and Kipyegon, 9 years old. When Joyce was four months pregnant with Emmanuel she was surprised to learn she was HIV positive. Joyce and David had been attending couples counseling at the Kericho District Hospital Prevention of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission (PMTCT) clinic, supported by PEPFAR, when he suggested she be tested. What Joyce was unaware of at the time was that David was also HIV positive.
After Joyce tested positive, the PMTCT counselor, with David’s permission and in his presence, disclosed David’s HIV status to Joyce. David, who had been ill on several occasions, had sought voluntary HIV counseling and testing services through a mobile counseling and testing program sponsored by the District Hospital.
Empowered with the knowledge of their HIV status, Joyce and David began taking steps to live a healthy and positive life. As part of the PMTCT program, Joyce received education regarding the importance of positive living, good nutrition, future use of single dose nevirapine for her and her infant, and the option of breast milk replacement feeding to help prevent infection after her infant was born. Fortunately, Joyce discovered during further testing that her HIV did not require additional antiretroviral therapy (ART). David, however, had advanced HIV (a critically low CD4 count of 33) and required ART.
Through continued follow-up and care at the PMTCT clinic, Emmanuel was born HIV negative. Joyce and David also had Kipyegon tested and learned he is HIV negative. Joyce continues to monitor her HIV and has not required treatment. After a year of ART, David has gained weight, feels healthy, and has a CD4 count of 152. |
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President Bush’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is leading a unified U.S. Government (USG) response to address global tuberculosis (TB)/HIV, and supports national TB and HIV/AIDS programs that fully integrate HIV prevention, treatment and care with TB services.
March 24 marks World TB Day – a day that highlights the global threat of tuberculosis. The theme of the 2007 World TB Day is: “TB Anywhere is TB Everywhere,” underscoring the fact that TB affects all corners of the globe.
“PEPFAR’s most important work in combating TB takes place through partnerships at the country level to support national health authorities, non-governmental organizations, and community- and faith-based organizations to implement effective TB/HIV programs,” Ambassador Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator noted. “By working with affected countries to build high-quality health care networks and increase capacity, we are laying the foundation for nations and communities to sustain their efforts against not just HIV/AIDS, but a wide range of other diseases, including multi-drug resistant and extensively drug resistant TB – long after the initial five years of the Emergency Plan.”
Collaboration among USG agencies, including those working domestically, has been strengthened – as have the Emergency Plan’s ties with multilateral partners, including the World Health Organization and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund). The USG remains the largest contributor to the Global Fund, providing approximately one-third of the Fund’s resources – and through 2007, the Global Fund will have committed $1.4 billion to TB grants.
“PEPFAR’s support for TB/HIV-related activities has grown more than six-fold in just three years – from $18.8 million in 2005, to $48.6 million in 2006, to at least $120 million in 2007,” Dybul added. “By the end of September 2006, PEPFAR had supported care for approximately 301,000 TB/HIV co-infected people in our 15 focus countries. With the more than doubling in funding for TB/HIV activities between 2006 and 2007, we hope to substantially increase the number of people reached with TB/HIV services.” |
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World Water Day 2007: Clean Water and HIV/AIDS
Nearly 1.1 billion people -- roughly 20 percent of the world’s population -- lack access to safe drinking water. In order for HIV-infected people to remain healthy as long as possible, and for people with AIDS to avoid opportunistic infections, access to clean drinking water and improved hygiene and sanitation practices are of the utmost importance. Starting on World Water Day, March 22, and ending on June 29, PEPFAR partner, PlayPumps International, is working to bring clean drinking water to 100 communities in sub-Saharan Africa in 100 days. Visit www.PlayPumps.org to learn about this initiative and how you can get involved.
First Lady Laura Bush announced the groundbreaking Public-Private Partnership between the United States Government, PlayPumps International, the Case Foundation, and other private and public sector partners on Sep. 20, 2006. Visit the clean water page on www.PEPFAR.gov to learn more about how this partnership will bring the benefits of clean drinking water to up to 10 million people by 2010.
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Secretary Rice Recognizes Work of PEPFAR on International Women’s Day
“The global observance of International Women’s Day reminds all nations that the empowerment of women is irrevocably tied to the safety, security, and prosperity of the world. ... This is why the United States is committed to sustained efforts to improve the political, social, and economic standing of women everywhere. ... Through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief we have supported prevention, treatment, and care for millions of women living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.”
Secretary Rice
Statement on International Women’s Day
March 8, 2007
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Office of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator
2100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW Suite 200 Washington, DC 20522 |
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