The original hope was to work with in-country resources toward effective distribution of a drug called nev irapine that helps prevent HIV transmission from mother to child. This remains a long-term goal, pending the resolution of various issues in various countries. The present program thrust is concerned with infrastructure development, training of prevention educators and personnel to conduct HIV testing and counseling, and for modifying values, structures and practices that predispose women and girls to higher infection rates than men, stigmatization of ill persons, and public denial. GAIA relies on contributions to help fund the costs associated with all infrastructure planning and development pertaining to transporting and administrating the medicine, conducting HIV testing and counseling, and undertaking appropriate prevention and self-care education. GAIA is particularly concerned to help improve the status of women.
New efforts are underway to organize and educate groups of women and female students.
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is spreading most rapidly among young women and girls in sub-Saharan Africa. In some areas their HIV infection rate is six times that of boys and men in the same age group. The drug is also administered to the newborn baby within 72 hours of birth. Nevirapine is easily absorbed and is administered orally, once to the mother as a pill and once to the baby in a suspension. Our hope is to eventually help this medication to reach pregnant women in Africa.