With World AIDS Day upon us today, and based on Hillary Clinton’s call for an “AIDS-free generation,” is it essential to reflect on the landmark successes in treating children and families with HIV/AIDS worldwide of the Baylor College of Medicine International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI), a program of the Texas Children’s Hospital’s global health initiatives.
Under the direction of Mark W. Kline, M.D., BIPAI provides HIV/AIDS care and treatment to more children and families than any other organization worldwide. BIPAI currently has more than 100,000 HIV-infected children and families in its care, more than
double the number of HIV-infected children in the U.S., Canada and Western Europe combined. The program includes an established infrastructure of HIV/AIDS centers across Africa and in Romania that is staffed by local health professionals as well as American physicians recruited to the Texas Children’s Global Health Corps.
“We established a model and set a standard of care through BIPAI, showing what could be accomplished through partnership with local governments, communities and organizations,” said Dr. Kline, physician-in-chief of Texas Children’s Hospital, founder and president of BIPAI and chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine.
BIPAI’s success lies with its needs-based philosophy and focus on creative, practical, on-the-ground care and treatment programs. Local governments are engaged for partnerships and support, and training is done to bolster local capacity for pediatric and family healthcare.
Based on the success of this model of HIV/AIDS care delivery, Texas Children’s Hospital now is turning to other neglected diseases heavily impacting the world’s poorest children and families. The network of BIPAI clinics and partnerships established throughout sub-Saharan Africa will provide the infrastructure and capacity to tackle a multitude of other serious or life-threatening diseases, including malaria, tuberculosis and non-communicable diseases like sickle cell and cancer.
Dr. Kline said, “While our work in treating HIV/AIDS is not yet done, during this World AIDS Day we take time to reflect on all that BIPAI has accomplished, and the promise of our ongoing efforts to create a healthier life for children across the globe.”
(Source: Texas Children’s Hospital/PRNewswire)