Description

UNICEF's Rob Grossman reports on new programs in Zambia that aim to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Transcript

Mobile Testing and Treatment of HIV/AIDS in Zambia's Mpika District Chris Niles: You are watching UNICEF television. As part of its HIV and AIDS response in Zambia, UNICEF together with the government and local partners is educating people about PMTCT or Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission. It’s estimated that 16% of Zambians are HIV positive. At the Keemba clinic, midwife Rose Namilinga conducts meetings to educate local families about the process. She encourages women to bring their husbands to get tested for HIV and to learn about PMTCT. Rose Namilinga: If she’d been found out encourages the mother you and they supported the mother especially feeding. This will help the baby not getting the virus and it would be easier for a woman to try in the food that will feed the baby during the six months. So it would be easy for the woman if she’s supported by the husband. Chris Niles: One of the key components of the success of PMTCT is for the mother to breastfeed exclusively for six months and this includes mothers who are HIV positive. Small world clinics like this one are also attempting to involve fathers in the education process. James Matesamwa: During the day, PMTCT intervention such as breastfeeding for six months and then weaning the child after the seventh month. It has bad and not obvious from the beginning analyzing it’s just typical life from this program, it is not there yet. Chris Niles: These young couples are tested for HIV and both are found to be negative. Rose Namilinga talks to the couple about their options regarding pregnancy, HIV and their plans for the future. Through a strong partnership with the government of Zambia and clinics like this one in Keemba, UNICEF is reducing the numbers of babies born with HIV. Rose Namilinga: In this particular moment, we are reaching somewhere between 25% to 30% of all pregnant mothers which means that we can actually probably prevent something like 15,000 to 20,000 children being infected per year which is a huge success and a very heartwarming thing I think that would been able to assist the government with. Chris Niles: This is Chris Niles reporting for UNICEF television. Unite for children.