The New Nation - Internet Edition

Professor M Zahidul Haque

EVERY hour 31 children used to die of AIDS when the 'William J Clinton Foundation' through its 'Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiatives' (CHAI) launched a pediatric program in 2005 which was first of its kind. The William J Clinton Foundation or in short Clinton Foundation was established by the former US President Bill Clinton with the mission to "strengthen the capacity of people throughout the world to meet the challenges of global interdependence". A charitable humanitarian non-government organization, the Clinton Foundation works on four major areas, viz. health security, economic empowerment, leadership development, and citizen service. One of the major thrust areas under the health security sector is Clinton Foundation HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) which strives to make treatment for HIV/AIDS more affordable through implementing large-scale integrated care, treatment and prevention programs.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), a disease caused by Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has been the leading cause of death among people ages 15-59 since 2002. More than 25 million people including 330,000 children between 1981 and 2007 were killed by AIDS and approximately 33.2 million people in the world are living with HIV.

HIV/AIDS when attacks a human reduces the effectiveness of his/her immune system which ultimately makes the AIDS patient susceptible to opportunistic infections and tumors. The AIDS virus is transmitted from an AIDS patient to an AIDS-free person through body fluids, such as, blood, breast milk, semen, etc. AIDS was first detected on June 5, 1981 by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In early 1980s, the cause of AIDS, HIV was identified. It has been confirmed through genetic research that HIV was originated in west-central Africa during the late 19th or early 20th century. And as record suggests, over three-quarters of AIDS deaths were occurred in sub-Saharan Africa which is still a major AIDS area. AIDS has badly contributed to the destruction of human capital plus retardation of economic growth in Africa.

Unfortunately no vaccine has yet been invented to combat HIV/AIDS. Of course there are some rays of hope as the USAID and its partner-International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) has recently made a groundbreaking HIV/AIDS discovery that may bring the scientific community closer to an HIV vaccine. Let's hope for the best. Meanwhile the present antiretroviral treatments should be made available to all the HIV/AIDS victims. True, the antiretroviral treatment cannot cure AIDS but it can slow the progression of the disease thereby reduces both mortality and morbidity of HIV infection. The best way to prevent HIV/AIDS is to follow the prescribed health codes through ensuring safe sex and needle-exchange, etc.

Appreciating the grave situation of AIDS pandemic, each year, December 1 is observed as the 'World AIDS Day' with the objective to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS. The Clinton Foundation has also undertaken special programs to observe this year's World AIDS Day. In addition to fund raising drive, former US President who is also the President of the Clinton Foundation Bill Clinton will spend a whole day with some guests and supporters of his Foundation. Currently the Clinton Foundation is supporting HIV/AIDS treatment for 222,000 children in partnership with UNITAD. The Clinton Foundation has launched the Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative (CHAI) to increase access to high-quality HIV/AIDS care and treatment. Recognizing the CHAI's program, UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis said - "If it hadn't been for the Clinton Foundation's negotiation around the generic drugs, I don't know how many more hundreds of thousands of people would have died unnecessarily".

Let's wish William J Clinton Foundation's success in controlling HIV/AIDS and in making our earth a peaceful abode.