Baylor Lends Expertise to HIV/AIDS Clinic in Botswana

Baylor College of Medicine is one of the driving forces in a new center emphasizing HIV/AIDS pediatric care in southern Africa, where currently more than 66,000 children are orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

The Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Center of Excellence was launched in Gaborone, Botswana, by Botswana President Festus Mogae. The clinic is a public-private sector partnership among the Botswana Ministry of Health, Gaborone's Princess Marina Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital in Houston and Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, which is providing funding through a $6 million grant from its Secure the Future program.

"The role of the Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Center of Excellence will be to attend to the primary and specialty medical care needs of HIV-infected infants and children, including nutritional, psychological, social, and child life services," said Dr. Mark Kline, program director of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative and a Baylor professor of pediatrics.

The center, located at the Princess Marina Hospital, will serve children visiting the hospital as well as the Mpule Kwelagobe's Children's Center, an orphanage in nearby Jwaneng. Features include outpatient/inpatient facilities, staffing and training programs for health care professionals throughout the region and telemedicine capabilities, which will give health care professionals and patients access to pediatric specialists around the world.

In addition, training physicians and nurses in HIV/AIDS care will have a far-reaching impact to the entire health care delivery system, Dr. Kline said. He added that one of the aims of the center is to develop novel approaches in reducing the number of required hospital stays for HIV-infected children.

"We are delighted that Baylor and Secure the Future have taken up the challenge to assist affected and infected children in this country. Extending care and support for children is a priority in curbing the HIV/AIDS pandemic," said President Mogae.

"The Botswana-Baylor Children's Clinical Center of Excellence is a pioneering model that should answer critical questions in the community and at the clinic about how best to allocate resources and services to the tens of thousands of children in Botswana infected or affected by the AIDS pandemic," said Joy Phumaphi, Botswana's Minister of Health.

The project is part of the Bristol-Myers Squibb-sponsored Secure the Future program, a $100 million commitment from the pharmaceutical company to assist women and children infected and affected with HIV/AIDS in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland. Grants awarded through the program fund medical research, community outreach, as well as education and training for health professionals.

The mission of the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative is to promote health for all people through education, research and public service. To achieve its goal, the initiative provides comprehensive medical and social services to HIV-infected and exposed infants and children; sustains excellence in educating U.S. and foreign health professionals; and advances clinical research.

- Courtesy of Baylor College of Medicine

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©2006 Texas Medical Center

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