From Zenit.org:
Caritas Internationalis wants a better effort to keep children from dying of AIDS, and says governments and pharmaceutical companies can do more to achieve the goal.In a statement last week the aid agency launched an appeal for young people throughout the world to write to governments and pharmaceutical companies through resources available on its Web site.The organization affirmed that governments and companies can scale up prevention of mother-to-child transmission, and eliminate the barriers that exclude women or children from diagnosis and treatment.Francesca Merico, Caritas Internationalis delegate at the U.N. offices in Geneva, said: "Without adequate treatment, as many as one third of children born with HIV will die before their first birthday, and half of them will die before they are two years old."Pediatric anti-retroviral treatment for HIV and HIV/TB co-infection in children is not considered to be profitable as the market for pediatric anti-retroviral care exists mainly in poor countries. How can we allow profits to be given priority over people? We want political leaders to tell the children of the world how they have promoted and respected the child's right to health."
Click here for more information on the Caritas campaign.
This is very timely. For those of us who live in New Jersey or have NJ connections (those who are missioned outside NJ should feel free to express their views on this issue, too), we should be very concerned about the 2010 budget that the Governor has proposed. In it, free HIV medication for the poor is eliminated and if approved they will now have to pay co-pays on their HIV medications. This is highly problematic and for some will be the difference between staying on their meds and not staying on meds. NJ residents will need to be vigilant about this aspect of the proposed budget. For those on meds, it is important that they stay on their meds consistently as prescribed. Communicating with the legislature is the best next step for those interested in expressing their views on this budget item.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Lisa