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Date:  June 13, 1995
For Release: Immediately
Contact:  Bonnie Aikman, HRSA (301) 443-3376

"Women represent one in four reported new AIDS cases in America, and the majority of these women are of reproductive age," said Assistant Secretary for Health and Public Health Service Director Philip R. Lee, M.D. "In 1993, this resulted in the birth of 1,000 to 2,000 HIV-infected infants. Recent clinical studies have shown that the drug AZT can reduce mother-to-infant HIV transmission by as much as two-thirds. However, in order to receive the optimal benefit from AZT or other medical treatment, women need to know if they have HIV before or early in pregnancy and need to follow a rigorous treatment regime."

The funds announced today are for the first of three consecutive cooperative agreements of approximately $1.1 million annually under HRSA's new program for reduction of perinatal HIV transmission.

HRSA Administrator Ciro V. Sumaya, M.D., said, "This program will support efforts in key communities to provide prenatal medical services to women, counsel women about HIV and offer them HIV testing. With medical care, counseling, testing and AZT therapy during their pregnancies, women can greatly reduce their chances of transmitting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, to their babies and protect their own health as well."

Funds will be used to enhance outreach efforts and voluntary HIV counseling and testing for adolescent and adult women, particularly during the perinatal period. Women will be encouraged to learn about their HIV status and link to a system that provides comprehensive care, including treatment to reduce HIV perinatal transmissions.

Most children with HIV get the AIDS virus through what is known as perinatal transmission -- transmission from an HIV-positive mother to her baby that occurs during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding.

The program will be developed in collaboration with three related projects that are part of the "Special Projects of National Significance" program administered by HRSA's Bureau of Health Resources Development.

Today's award of $1.1 million is being made under Title IV of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency Act, which is administered by HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau as part of its Grants for Coordinated HIV Services and Access to Research for Children, Youth and Families. HRSA is one of eight Public Health Service agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services.

A list of the FY 1995 grantees and award amounts follows:

     Awardee                                      Award Amount

Maryland Department of Health and                 $172,450
  Mental Hygiene
Baltimore, Md.

University of Texas Southwestern                   185,311
  Medical Center
Dallas, Texas

Massachusetts Department of Public Health          212,572
Boston, Mass.

North Broward Hospital District                    175,000
Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Children's Hospital                                170,000
New Orleans, La.

New Jersey Department of Health                    181,344
Trenton, N.J.

                            TOTAL:              $1,096,677