The voices of women affected by HIV often go unheard. Reluctant to attend mostly male clinics, their medical care has historically been substandard.

The mission of HOPE is to support the treatment of women living with HIV or Aids and to prevent transmission of HIV to newborns.

We are listening...

The name HOPE is used to express the committee’s mission to provide Help, Optimism, the will to Persevere, and Encouragement.

Help - the program provides the latest in medical care to women, transportation to that care and childcare services. Additionally, limited emergency funds are available for medicines, diapers, food and housing.

Optimism - HIV infected women are living longer with the promise of an improved quality of life. New medications are more effective and have fewer side effects. The incidence of HIV infected babies has decreased dramatically.

Perseverance - the program provides patients with the confidence to take charge of their lives, to begin and maintain productive careers and to start families with confidence and a positive lookout.

Encouragement - HOPE makes available a social worker who links newer patients in a "buddy system" with patients more experienced in the effects of the HIV virus and encourages them to stay connected and healthy.

"HIV-positive women can deliver healthy children. It is our role
to help them understand that, while HIV is not curable,
it is absolutely treatable."

Pat Garcia, MD, MPH, director of the Women's Program of
the HIV Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and
associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at
Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine

For more information call Northwestern Memorial Foundation at 312-926-7133.