AIDS alliance honors Sen. Kit Bond

U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo., was honored May 17 with a Public Policy Award from the AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families. Bond was recognized for his legislative efforts on behalf of children, youth and families affected by HIV and AIDS. During the ceremony, Bond announced that he and Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., are reintroducing their Children and Family HIV/AIDS Research and Care Act.

“We have made great strides in our efforts to improve care and treatment (of) people living with HIV/AIDS,” Bond said in a news release. “As a result of our federal investment in biomedical research as well as advances in medical care, pharmaceuticals and support services, access to new drugs and new treatments are offering hope and enhancing the quality of life for those who are affected by HIV/AIDS. But there is still work to be done.”

Bond praised the significant reduction in the number of mother-to-child HIV transmissions. According to the AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth and Families, the number of newborns infected with HIV has decreased to fewer than 200 cases per year.

But Bond noted that it’s important to remember that children and youth are not simply small adults when it comes to HIV/AIDS prevention, research, care and treatment.

The Dodd-Bond bill would reauthorize and expand Title IV of the Ryan White Care Act, which focuses on the needs of children and adolescents infected with HIV.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Expand outreach, care and prevention services for HIV-positive young people;

• Enhance support for services devoted to reaching women, infants, children and youth;

• Increase efforts to prevent mother-to child HIV transmission through comprehensive care programs for HIV-positive pregnant women; and

• Ensure that biomedical and psychosocial research efforts – including research into a preventive HIV vaccine – take into account the special needs of pediatric and youth populations.

Title IV of the Ryan White Care Act funds projects through 91 grants in 35 states, providing medical care, case management, support services, mental health, transportation, child care and other services to families affected by HIV/AIDs.

There are two Title IV grantees in Missouri, the Kansas City Free Clinic and Project Ark at Washington University Medical School.