OAK BROOK, Ill., Dec. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Ronald McDonald House Charities today awarded a grant of US$300,000 (XAF 153,774,000 CFA franc) to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's Call to Action (CTA) project to prevent mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV program in Cameroon, Africa. To commemorate World AIDS Day and address its focus on "Women, Girls and HIV/AIDS," RMHC chose to fund CTA, which helps to support pregnant moms and protect their unborn babies. The program will reach more than 25,000 women throughout the West African nation of Cameroon over the next 12 months.
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"The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities is to directly improve the health and well being of children around the world," said Ken Barun, president and CEO of RMHC. "Our continuing support of the Foundation will offer hope that the next generation of young people in Cameroon will be born HIV-free and live healthy lives."
In some parts of Cameroon, it is estimated that up to 10 percent of pregnant women are infected with HIV, and that number has tripled in the last 10 years. The funding from RMHC will provide voluntary HIV counseling and testing for pregnant women as well as drug interventions that can help prevent transmission of the virus to their newborn children. Additionally, support groups will be established for those women who are HIV positive.
Dr. Louis Sullivan, a member of the RMHC Global Board of Trustees and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services, said, "The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa has created an urgent need for involvement and assistance from organizations and individuals around the world. I'm proud that RMHC has not only recognized this reality, but stepped up with the financial support necessary to help combat this disease."
Since 1990, RMHC has awarded nearly US$2 million in grants to help meet the needs of pediatric HIV/AIDS patients and children impacted or affected by AIDS around the world - providing more than US$900,000 in support to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
"We are grateful for the generous support from Ronald McDonald House Charities that helps make this important work possible," said Kate Carr, president and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. "It is a devastating reality that over 2,000 children are born with HIV each day -- 700,000 a year -- and we know how to prevent these infections."
This week marks the 17th annual World AIDS Day and the 10th anniversary of Elizabeth Glaser's passing-both serve as reminders of the progress made and the additional work needed to eradicate pediatric AIDS. The international CTA project has reached more than one million women worldwide with PMTCT resources since 2000 and is striving to reach another million in the next year.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
RMHC, a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most -- right in their own communities. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children's lives through its global network of 181 local Chapters in 48 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House(R), Ronald McDonald Family Room(TM) and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile(TM). RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than US$400 million in grants and program services to children's non-profit organizations around the world. For more information, visit http://www.rmhc.org/ .
About the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation
The Foundation creates a future of hope for children and families worldwide by eradicating pediatric AIDS, providing care and treatment to people with HIV/AIDS, and accelerating the discovery of new treatments for other serious and life-threatening pediatric illnesses. For more information, visit http://www.pedaids.org/ .
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Palmer Moody, RMHC (630) 623.5372 Ashley Wolfington Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (202) 296.9165
Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20041203/CGF002LOGOhttp://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990916/MCDLOGOhttp://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040427/CGTU030LOGO-bAP PhotoExpress Network: PRN11PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.comRonald McDonald House CharitiesCONTACT: Palmer Moody of RMHC, +1-630-623-5372 or Ashley Wolfington ofthe Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, +1-202-296-9165
Web site: http://www.rmhc.org//Web site: http://www.pedaids.org/