Grants from the Positive Action for Children Fund

[Guest guest]

ViiV Healthcare Awards Grants from the Positive Action for Children Fund of

£3.6m

AIDS has become a leading cause of illness and death among women of reproductive

age in countries with a high burden of HIV infection.

More than 1400 children under 15 years of age become infected with HIV every

day, most through mother-to-child transmission. In spite of recent progress in

the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), children account for

more than 10% of all new HIV infections.

The confirmation of successful projects comes following the inaugural

International Fund Advisory Board meeting held yesterday in Nairobi, Kenya. The

Board is comprised of independent experts in the fields of HIV, sexual and

reproductive health and child health including clinicians, members of

non-governmental and multi-lateral organisations and people living with HIV.

Since calling for initial grant proposals at the end of March 2010, ViiV

Healthcare has received over 750 proposals from organisations in 61 countries.

Spanning all continents, 12 projects have been selected by the Board to receive

funding based on each projects ability to deliver well-evaluated, sustainable,

community-based services and support.

Chair of the Board, Professor Peckham, Institute of Child Health in

London, commented, The projects we have selected as a Board will make a real

difference to communities affected by HIV. Some test new models of working which

may be worthy of a wider application, meaning that their success can be realised

not only during the funding phases, but hopefully for many years to come.

Dr Dominique Limet, CEO of ViiV Healthcare commented, Identifying and supporting

initiatives that can help improve the lives of vulnerable populations is core to

ViiV Healthcares commitment to those affected by HIV and AIDS. We hope that the

support provided by the Positive Action for Children Fund will make a real

difference on the ground in the communities most affected by the epidemic,

improving the lives of children and families and importantly contributing to our

knowledge of what really works.

The 12 projects* that have been selected will focus on two key areas.

The first group of projects will focus on the strengthening and integration of

primary HIV prevention, HIV services and sexual and reproductive health services

leading to improved access to and continuity of services for men and women at

risk of HIV or living with HIV.

The projects include

Public Health Research Institute of India

The second group of projects will focus on the support of infants, children and

adolescents living with HIV and their families within their communities,

promoting a family-centred approach. The projects are:

Rajasthan Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (RNP+), India

About the Positive Action for Children Fund

The Positive Action for Children Fund was first announced in July 2009 and

builds upon the foundation of the long-standing Positive Action programme,

established in 1992. With an emphasis on community engagement, ViiV Healthcares

Positive Action programme will continue to support global efforts to address the

challenges of HIV prevention, tackling stigma and discrimination, building

capacity and treatment literacy.

Following extensive consultations with some of the sectors leading

non-governmental organisations, practitioners and policy-makers in this field,

the Fund focuses on grants that pursue the four elements of the World Health

Organizations (WHO) strategic vision and comprehensive approach for addressing

the mother-to-child transmission of HIV, under these four headings:

1. Increasing and improving primary prevention of HIV infection among women of

childbearing age;

2. Delivering proper and equitable reproductive choices for people living with

HIV/AIDS;

3. Interventions that prevent HIV transmission from a woman living with HIV to

her infant; and

4. Improving the health and welfare of mothers living with HIV, their children

and families by providing appropriate treatment, care and support.

ViiV Healthcares Positive Action for Children Fund will have a targeted spending

pattern; at least 80 percent will support projects focused on sub-Saharan

Africa, while up to 20 percent may be dispersed to projects focused elsewhere.

To qualify, at least 85 percent of the project’s budget must be spent in the

targeted country.

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