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PMTCT protects unborn babies from HIV
positive mothers |
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A 24 year old
Lerato*, the mother of two knew her HIV status
when she was pregnant and was regularly ill by
then. After her baby was born she was bed ridden
and seriously sick suffered from Tubercloisis
(TB) and depression. After birth Lerato was
unconscious and unable to take care of her new
born baby. Therefore her baby was under the care
of her mother and health workers in the hospital
where she was admitted. She was treated for TB
and later enrolled on AIDS treatment. Due to her
illness, when she recovered she opted not to
breastfed but provided supplementary feeding for
her new born baby. With the free treatment,
Lerato and her baby are now health. Her baby
girl is now 11 months and enjoys eating soft
porridge.
The 2008 finding of the Five Year Evaluation
(5YE) of the Health Impact of the Global Fund
grants in Lesotho revealed that Prevention of
Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) coverage
has almost doubled from 17 percent in 2006 to 31
percent in 2007. The increase in the number of
PMTCT facilities has increased the number of
pregnant women being tested, from 6,469 in 2005
to 23,964 in 2007. The number of pregnant
mothers taking HIV tests increased; currently 72
percent of positive mothers know their status
and are currently on HIV and AIDS treatment
while 77 percent of new born babies received HIV
prophylaxis. As a result, the recent data shows
a steady increase in the proportion of HIV
negative infants born from HIV positive mothers
who received treatment or prophylaxis.
“I feel energetic and healthy than before and
happy to see that despite my regular illnesses
when I was expecting, my baby is today free from
HIV virus,” said Lerato.
Lerato and her husband are both unemployed and
HIV positive therefore without free AIDS and TB
treatment this family could not be able to
afford expensive medication. Thank you to Global
Fund, government and other development partners.
NB:
Lerato* not her real name |
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