CHAI’s (Clinton Health Access Initiative) Maternal Health Organization is a groundbreaking initiative designed to drastically increase the health of HIV/AIDS infected mothers and children in developing nations. It has already affected the lives of millions of people around the world with education, medication and raising awareness of the disease.

HIV/AIDS is a chronic, non-curable immune disease. Transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids, it has been a well-publicized health problem in the United States since the 1970’s. However, the US was not the only country affected, and developing nations like those in Africa are among the hardest hit by this disease. Two thirds of people in low income countries who need treatment for HIV/AIDS are not getting it, and one third of those who are getting it stop taking it after two years. This is a huge problem, as people who are not being treated are more likely to pass this disease along to their spouses and future children.

The medications used to treat this highly infectious disease cost, on average, ten thousand dollars per person, per year. People in affluent countries would find this a heavy burden to bear. CHAI has managed to help drastically lower the cost of these medications for the people in such need; taking the cost down to between one hundred and two hundred dollars (per person per year). That’s a reduction of over nine thousand dollars a year per person. The price change is responsible for about six million people now being on medication that could not afford to before.

In any global fight, it is necessary to raise awareness of the problem one wishes to eradicate. CHAI has managed to gather some impressive backing for their health initiatives. For instance, President Clinton launched the Global Pediatric Program in 2005, bringing to light the fact that almost none of the HIV/AIDS infected children in low income countries were receiving treatment at that time. Due to the increased interest in the problem, the percent of children receiving treatment is now roughly equal to the percent of adults who are being treated.

In addition to that impressive feat, in 2005 CHAI decided they needed to reduce the number of cases of maternal based transmission. With a global support system and a comprehensive mode of care, they hope to reduce the number of mother to child transmissions down to zero.

CHAI’s Maternal Health Organization has been a lifesaver for a lot of children and adults alike. Through education, medication and raising awareness, it has been able to greatly relieve the suffering that has been so much a part of lower income countries for generations. Having accomplished so much in such a short period of time, their dream of ultimately eliminating the disease may well be realized in the next few years to come.