The Hill: 30 years later, and still fighting HIV/AIDS in children
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), co-chair of the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, and Charles Lyons, president and CEO of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation

“…[Monday], leaders from both sides of the aisle came together on Capitol Hill to recognize a woman pivotal to … progress [against global HIV/AIDS]. Elizabeth Glaser — who unknowingly transmitted HIV to both of her children after being infected through a blood transfusion in 1981 — founded the Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) in 1988. Over the next six years, she lobbied tirelessly to ensure that her government prioritized HIV research and the development of lifesaving antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) for children. … Though Elizabeth did not live long enough to see the full impact of her advocacy and message reflected in federal policy, her impact was profound. Progress has followed in the wake of Elizabeth’s early successes. … Yet progress for children in the global AIDS response is tenuous. … EGPAF’s 30th anniversary is an opportunity to applaud the strides we’ve taken, but it would be an affront to Elizabeth Glaser’s legacy if we were to view this occasion as anything less than a recommitment to the fight” (6/12).