§ 7652. Policy and requirements
(a)
Policy
The United States Government’s response to the global HIV/AIDS pandemic should place high priority on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, the care and treatment of family members and caregivers, and the care of children orphaned by AIDS. To the maximum extent possible, the United States Government should seek to leverage its funds by seeking matching contributions from the private sector, other national governments, and international organizations.
(b)
Requirements
The 5-year United States Government strategy required by section
7611 of this title shall—
(1)
establish a target for the prevention and treatment of mother-to-child transmission of HIV that, by 2013, will reach at least 80 percent of pregnant women in those countries most affected by HIV/AIDS in which the United States has HIV/AIDS programs;
(2)
establish a target that, by 2013, the proportion of children receiving care and treatment under this chapter is proportionate to their numbers within the population of HIV infected individuals in each country;
(3)
integrate care and treatment with prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programs to improve outcomes for HIV-affected women and families as soon as is feasible and support strategies that promote successful follow-up and continuity of care of mother and child;
(4)
expand programs designed to care for children orphaned by, affected by, or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS;
(c)
Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Expert Panel
(1)
Establishment
The Global AIDS Coordinator shall establish a panel of experts to be known as the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Panel (referred to in this subsection as the “Panel”) to—
(2)
Membership
The Panel shall be convened and chaired by the Global AIDS Coordinator, who shall serve as a nonvoting member. The Panel shall consist of not more than 15 members (excluding the Global AIDS Coordinator), to be appointed by the Global AIDS Coordinator not later than 1 year after July 30, 2008, including—
(A)
2 members from the Department of Health and Human Services with expertise relating to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission activities;
(B)
2 members from the United States Agency for International Development with expertise relating to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission activities;
(C)
2 representatives from among health ministers of national governments of foreign countries in which programs under this chapter are administered;
(D)
3 members representing organizations implementing prevention of mother-to-child transmission activities under this chapter;
(F)
representatives from among patient advocate groups, health care professionals, persons living with HIV/AIDS, and non-governmental organizations with expertise relating to the prevention of mother-to-child transmission activities, giving priority to individuals in foreign countries in which programs under this chapter are administered.
(3)
Duties of Panel
The Panel shall—
(A)
assess the effectiveness of current activities in reaching the target described in subsection (b)(1);
(B)
review scientific evidence related to the provision of mother-to-child transmission prevention services, including programmatic data and data from clinical trials;
(C)
review and assess ways in which the Office of the United States Global AIDS Coordinator collaborates with international and multilateral entities on efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV in affected countries;
(D)
identify barriers and challenges to increasing access to mother-to-child transmission prevention services and evaluate potential mechanisms to alleviate those barriers and challenges;
(E)
identify the extent to which stigma has hindered pregnant women from obtaining HIV counseling and testing or returning for results, and provide recommendations to address such stigma and its effects;
(4)
Report
(A)
In general
Not later than 1 year after the date on which the Panel is first convened, the Panel shall submit a report containing a detailed statement of the recommendations, findings, and conclusions of the Panel to the appropriate congressional committees.