Philippe Douste-Blazy

In an effort to fill a gap in the breakdown of health services following the earthquake of 12 January, the UNITAID Executive Board has approved the allocation of one million US dollars  this week to treat and feed 6 000 children living with HIV/AIDS in Haiti. The project will be managed for UNITAID by the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI).

The funds disbursed will be used for paediatric HIV care and treatment with a focus on diagnostic kits for Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), the introduction of Fixed Dose Combinations (FDCs) (three-in-one pills which are easier to take and promote better patient compliance) and nutrition products such as Ready-to-Use-Therapeutic Foods (RUTF).

On the ground, CHAI is working closely with Partners In Health and products will, at least initially, be distributed through them.  Partners in Health operates in 10 hospitals in Haiti and also provides support to  the primary General Hospital in Port-au-Prince.

CHAI is also looking to expand their scope to work with additional partners in Haiti in order to expand distribution channels should this be deemed necessary. Every effort will be taken to ensure that the product is distributed to those most in need.

Before the earthquake, UNITAID was already supplying second-line AIDS treatments to patients in Haiti.