11/21/2013
PMTCT, A successful intervention towards an HIV free generation
(story by OPHID:http://www.ophid.co.zw/)
With her two-year old baby girl clutched to her side, 30-year old Winfielda Chirango stands tall among the crowd of government officials, UN Agencies, local and international organizations and the Chikomba community. The Vice President, Amai Joice Mujuru and the Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr. David Parirenyatwa are among the crowd that listens attentively to her story. She and her daughter are a testimony to the effectiveness of the national prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) program.
Winfielda’s story
“I tested HIV positive in early 2010.
After taking my medication for some time, I decided that young as I am, I can still have a child. I was given information at my local clinic by a nurse who told me to come to the clinic as soon as I found out that I was pregnant. I went back to the clinic when I was two months pregnant and the nurses gave me advice and support to carry my pregnancy through. I followed all the advice I was given by the health care workers, took my medication as directed and delivered my baby at the clinic where my baby and I received the necessary care and support.
Today, I am quite thrilled to be holding a healthy baby girl. My baby was tested for HIV at 6 weeks, and the results were negative. I followed the nurse’s advice to give her breast-milk only for the first six months. I took my baby where ever I went, as I was worried that if I leave her for a long time, she would cry and other people may decide to give her some food to calm her down. I continued to breastfeed with a lot of determination, but when my baby turned one year and two months old, I weaned her off, although I had been advised to breastfeed until she turned 2 years. My baby was tested again at this point and she was negative for HIV.
To all the women out there, I am appealing to you to consider the future of your children. Why continue to give birth to children who fail to survive beyond their first or second birthday? PMTCT is here to give you the healthy children that you so desired for a long time!
I have bigger dreams, to see grandchildren from my daughter. Since I value the life of my daughter and wish to see her grow, I have continued to take my ARVs as directed. Nowadays, it’s easy, I just “juice up” by taking my ARVs every day, on the same time. I set up my alarm to go off at 7 in the evening. The tone is a recording of my child, reminding me to take my ARVs. Every time I hear the tone, it reminds me that I have to take the medication for my health, and for the sake of my child.
It is possible to give birth to an HIV negative baby, even though you are HIV positive”.
Winfielda Chirango’s testimony was part of the national launch of lifelong ART for HIV positive pregnant and breastfeeding women (Option B+) which took place on November 13th, 2013 in Chikomba district, Mashonaland East, Zimbabwe. The Ministry of Health and Child Care (MOHCC) launched its plan to transition from its current regimen (Option A) to providing lifelong ART to HIV positive pregnant and lactating women. The move to offer Option B+ will bring Zimbabwe closer to achieving its targets as set out in the national strategic plan for the eliminating new HIV infections in children and keeping mother and families alive: 2011-2015.
The Organization for Public Health Interventions and Development (OPHID) Trust works closely with the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare of the Government of Zimbabwe to support the National Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV/AIDS (PMTCT) Programme.
