Save a Life/ Donations:

Nevirapine, HIV rapid tests, cotrimoxazole

From a nurse in Sub-Sahara Africa

Implementation of programs for the prevention of HIV transmission from mothers to infants are urgently needed. Global Strategies for HIV Prevention has received donations for the purchase of nevirapine for a Save a Life Program supported by First Presbyterian Church Berkeley; Robert James Frascino AIDS Foundation; Bayside Church, Granite Bay, CA, and individual donors. To date, nevirapine or funds to purchase nevirapine have been provided for over 62,000 mother/infant pairs in over 70 hospitals or clinics in over 22 countries. The funding is restricted to the purchase of nevirapine, HIV rapid tests, and cotrimoxazole and cannot be used for support of other aspects of prevention programs. Therefore, recipients of funds are likely to already have in place adequate infrastructure to provide the necessary care diagnosis and treatment for HIV infected mothers and infants according to community and national standards of care. Once you have provided the information requested below, your application will be reviewed. If approved, you will be sent an agreement, which must be returned along with information on how funds should be transferred, or drugs and raid HIV tests made available by means of air express shipment. We are eager to expedite the approval process.

This program is intended for initiation of PMTCT programs. In spite of the knowledge that nevirapine can reduce HIV transmission by 50%, the availability of the drug still lags behind the needs. More established programs may wish to use nevirapine along with other antiretroviral drugs to further reduce HIV transmission and decease the potential for drug resistance. Less than 10% of HIV infected pregnant women in developing counties receive any antiretroviral treatment. Each day thousands of infants are born without the benefit of preventive therapy.

Global Strategies can provide either funds for the purchase of nevirapine, rapid HIV tests and cotrimoxazole directly within a country or can, in most situations, supply drugs and tests to a clinic or hospital capable of administering the drug to HIV infected pregnant women. Global Strategies does not require a formal grant application but does require specific information and assurances as outlined below, and a follow-up report. Your request for nevirapine, rapid HIV tests or cotrimoxazole or for funds to purchase these items should be sent to:

Global Strategies for HIV Prevention
104 Dominican Drive
San Rafael, CA 94901
415 451-1814 phone
415 456-2622 fax
www.GlobalStrategies.org

Send E mail application to info@globalstrategies.org

Date:
Name:
Title and position:
Name of organization:
Type of organization: (NGO, clinic, hospital):
Affiliations:
Address:
Phone:
Fax:
Email address:
Estimated number of HIV infected pregnant women seen in one year:

Estimated number of HIV rapid tests required for one year to screen pregnant women.
Estimated HIV infected women currently treated in one year:
Current treatment: (None, AZT, AZT/3TC, nevirapine, Cotrimoxazole)
Estimated number of mother infant pairs to receive treatment:
Will funds be required for purchase of nevirapine (yes/no):
Or will shipment of nevirapine will be required: (yes or no):

1. Drugs provided and rapid tests under this program must be used solely for the prevention of HIV transmission from mothers to infants according to the schedule outlined in the HIVNET 012 Ugandan study (A copy of the protocol, drug dose and safety precautions will be sent if the application is approved.) In brief, a single dose of 200 mgs is given to the mother at the time of labor and delivery and a single dose of nevirapine in syrup to the infant within 72 hours of delivery at a dose of 2 mgs/kg.
2. Nevirapine will be used  exclusively for pregnant women and their infants who are known to be HIV infected or who are likely to be infected.
3. Records will be maintained of individuals who received nevirapine and or cotrimoxazole.
4. Records will be maintained of the amount of nevirapine and/or cotrimoxazole used.
5. Records will be kept on the number of HIV rapid tests performed and the number that test positive.
6. Nevirapine will not be used for any purpose other than outlined above and stated in the agreement.
7. Acceptance of nevirapine, or funds to purchase nevirapine, implies that nevirapine will be used in accordance with community and national rules and standard of care.
8. Funds or drugs cannot be transferred for other uses, to other sites, or individuals without permission of Global Strategies.
9. Unused drug, HIV rapid tests, or funds must be returned to Global Strategies.
10. If funds are provided for the purchase of nevirapine by the applicant, it must be $4 US or less for the maternal and infant dose combined. The cost of Cotrimoxazole must be less than $6 US per year for daily double dose cotrimoxazole. In some countries discounted nevirapine may be available for 85 cents US for the combined mother and infants doses.
11. If approved, additional information will be required (bank to which funds should be transferred, account name and number, phone and email contacts etc.)