The success of Lesotho’s Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) is attributed to Global Fund R 7 HIV grant in collaboration with government and other partners. According to HIV DNA-PCR testing for children released by Ministry of Health revealed that out of 9065 babies born from HIV positive mothers tested in 2009, the total of 8196 were found negative while only 869 were HIV positive.

Here is one of the HIV positive mother who received PMTCT services and her baby is now HIV negative. Baile Molomo, 31 years, of Kalabane in Mafeteng district of Lesotho, 70 km south of the capital Maseru is married and looked forward to start her own family. When she conceived, she started antenatal visits at Mafeteng government hospital where she decided to take a voluntary HIV test in order to know her status to protect her unborn baby.

The test results revealed that she was HIV positive. She is a self employed woman selling fruits and snacks while her husband is working at Chinese Textile industry. She broke the news to the husband and with all the support the husband accepted the news and he also decided to take a test which was also HIV positive.

The couple went for PMTCT counseling and learnt all the necessary steps to be taken to ensure the baby is born free from HIV.

“My baby was born on 18/10/08. Me and my baby received prophylaxis to prevent transmission of HIV to my baby. Right now my baby is healthy and free from HIV,” she added.

To date the mother is enrolled to life-time AIDS treatment drugs while the baby has tested for DNA-PCR and was found HIV negative.

“All medication for me and my baby are free of charge. Thank to our Government and the donors who support our Government to help the HIV infected people to live a healthy living,” she acknowledged.

Caption: the baby born from HIV negative mother is free from the virus.

Through Round 7 HIV/AIDS grant, Global Fund supports Lesotho on the scale-up of PMTCT program in order to reduce infant and maternal mortality and save lives of pregnant mothers and their babies.

With assistance of R7 grant, 18 PMTCT professional counselors were engaged to provide pre and post testing counseling to pregnant mothers, health cadres from all health facilities were trained to roll-out PMTCT services and with the assistance of other partners prophylaxis drugs were supplied to save babies from the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, the recent Ministry of Health Surveillance indicated that in 2009, out of 9,065 babies born from HIV positive mothers, 8196 were found to be negative while 869 were HIV positive.

This success is attributed to the successful PMTCT services that are currently provided to 186 health facilities country wide which is (71% of all Lesotho health facilities). The challenges are massive but with the determination to support PMTCT program, Lesotho will be able to protect the future generation from the fatal disease which is the source of death to many children under five years.