A novel initiative was launched to offer better treatment to HIV-infected children. According to its organizers, children in developing countries with AIDS are not receiving the attention they deserve. Take note that approximately 1,000 kids are infected with AIDS daily. There are also 700 kids who succumb to the disease each day. In total, there are more than two million children who have HIV(with most of them living in sub-Saharan Africa).
 
In 2005, the Global Pediatric Program was launched in twelve countries by President Clinton’s Health Access Initiative or CHAI with the objective of confronting the fact that almost no HIV/AIDS-infected children were being treated in the developing world. Previously, everyone thought that treating pediatric AIDS was too expensive and complicated. But in a few years, this myth was shattered by the Global Pediatric Program as the number of AIDS-infected children who are being treated is now equal to the number of adults who are similarly in treatment.
 
CHAI began its efforts by bringing the cost of pediatric AIDS medicine down by 90%. From a cost of $600 for each patient every year, the price dropped to $60 each year. The dramatic decrease has led to an astounding rise in the number of kids being treated that by 2010′s end, more than 300,000 kids were in treatment in 34 countries.
 
Prior to CHAI’s involvement, treating kids with AIDS or HIV was quite complex. Other than the high cost of drugs, diagnosis was also complicated as well as the doses needed. CHAI worked with the governments of various countries in order to roll out testing for infants. Testing guidelines for babies were established that by the end of 2009, more than 4,000 sites were up and ready to test infants for HIV in the more than thirty CHAI-supported nations. Also, pediatric HIV-related drugs were previously only available in liquid form thus making these difficult to be stored, transported, and dispensed. Thanks to CHAI, a formulation was developed to allow kids to take a pill two times a day.
 
All in all, it is entirely possible to treat pediatric AIDS and the suffering it causes. However, universal access to quality treatment for all HIV-infected kids is critical. Earlier identification is a requirement specifically for areas which are difficult to reach.