UNICEF funds AID FOR AIDS’ research on pediatric ARV procurement in LAC

September 1^st, 2009.

Dear colleagues,

On this occasion, we would like to inform you about a new UNICEF funded, AID FOR AIDS International (AFAI) initiative which will begin as a study to assess pediatric ARV procurement and supply management systems in different Latin America and Caribbean countries.  

Its main purpose is to find ways to eliminate stockouts and to guarantee a continuous supply of drugs for pediatric HIV treatment.

Click on the following link to access the Executive Summary

http://www.observatoriolatino.org/upload_arch/Resumen Ejecutivo Estudio Compra de Medicamentos Pediatricos LAC.doc

We need to point out that unlike initiatives carried out by other organizations, ours will focus especially on civil society organizations, like grassroots organizations. Pre-determined countries taking part in this pilot stage are Guatemala, Honduras, and Peru.

The main impetus behind establishing and implementing a rather large number of programs for universal HIV treatment and for progress towards diminishing global and regional HIV impacts is – as UNAIDS very well knows – the PLWHA, “whose activism has helped achieve what once was thought to be impossible.” Civil society participation in developing, implementing, and monitoring HIV prevention and treatment programs has been key in every accomplishment we know of so far.

Civil society has taken part in creating national and sub-national objectives for universal treatment access guidelines through its ongoing social surveillance… assuring that national plans and objectives are fulfilled.

AFAI is committed to ARV provision and to daily improving the lives of PLWHA. It is extending an invitation to everyone to send comments, questions, or suggestions they may have about this pilot initiative as well as about the supply of pediatric ARV medicines in general. 

Your contributions and personal and community experiences will significantly help us describe and document vitally important aspects for producing sound research.

In the next few weeks, we will start communicating directly and formally with organizations and people involved in this topic so as to work out the details for joint data gathering in each country.

Finally, we acknowledge and appreciate once again all the work that has been done. If you have any question about this initiative, please email us at tobey.busch@aidforaids.org or eduardo.guzman@aidforaids.org, or call us 1-212-337-8043.

Sincerely,

Tobey Busch                                             Eduardo Guzman

Director, UTAI                                         Coordinator, UTAI

To read the original letter, please click the following link

http://www.observatoriolatino.org/upload_arch/Presentacion Estudio Compra ARVs Pediatricos en LAC.doc.pdf

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