IPS interview examines efforts to prevent mother-to-child HIV transmission

"On World AIDS Day, the fact that the number of children newly infected with HIV continues to decline is welcome news to UNITAID, the international drug purchase facility hosted by the World Health Organization," Inter Press Service reports, adding, "But UNITAID is also well aware of how much more remains to be done for children already living with the disease." IPS correspondent Julia Kallas interviews Philippe Douste-Blazy, U.N. under-secretary-general in charge of innovative financing and chair of the UNITAID executive board, "about the progress that has been made in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV but also how the international community must continue providing childhood HIV treatments to developing countries." The news service writes, "'There was some progress made but there is still a lot to be done by the international community,' Douste-Blazy told IPS regarding the fight against HIV/AIDS" (12/1).