The manual was a joint effort of individual experts and organizations. The primary coordinator of the development of the manual is Dr Lulu Muhe, on behalf of the department of Child and Adolescent Health and Development (MCH) and the Department of HIV/AIDS in WHO. The experts who contributed to the writing and editing of the various chapters of the manual are:

Shaffiq Essajee (Clinton Foundation and more recently HIV/AIDS department of WHO),

Rakesh Lodha (All India Institute of Medicine),

Sanjiv Lewin and John Stephen (St. John's Medical College Hospital),

Mutsa F. Bwakura-Dangarembizi (University of Zimbabwe),

Mary Lyn Field, Diana Silimperi and Tom Schaetzel (BASICS),

Ahmed Bedru Omer (Addis Ababa University),

Francis Onyango (WHO/AFRO, now consultant),

Ruby Fayorsey (ICAP, Columbia University),

Nathan Tumwesigye (ANECCA), and

Younsook Lim.

WHO acknowledges the enormous contributions of all experts.

The manual was developed jointly with the development of the corresponding adult manual coordinated by Drs Sandy Gove, Asfour Fareed, and Kirsty Mcharry from the Department of HIV and AIDS of WHO. Further reviews, suggestions and guidance and contributions were made by Caoimhe Smyth, Reuben Granich, Nigel Rollins, Carmen Casanovas, Randa Saadeh, Siobhan Crowley, Natalie Mccall, Claire Edgers, Sally Girvin, José Martines, Elizabeth Mason and Charlie Gilks.

None of the experts declared any conflict of interest. Their contributions are gratefully acknowledged.

Duke Gyamerah contributed to the graphic design and layout, and Megan Towle for editing the manual.

Review by date: The manual will need to be revised during 2013 -2015 when new significant research results come about that call for change of the new WHO recommendations. CAH will initiate the revision of the manual.