Thursday, January 23, 2025
HomeWorld NewsChad: Protecting Children from HIV/AIDS | Global News Avenue

Chad: Protecting Children from HIV/AIDS | Global News Avenue

Chad: Protecting Children from HIV/AIDS

World Health Organization (WHO) - Chad

Judith Haltebaye is a midwife with 15 years of experience and has been working at the Abena-Atetip Health Center in central N’Djamena for the past seven years. Over the years she has provided support to hundreds of women during pregnancy and postpartum. For some, her care involves highly specific follow-up, as in the case of Menodjie, a 34-year-old living with HIV. “Menoghi came for consultation in January and through routine tests we found out she was HIV-positive. She was pregnant with her second child at the time,” Judith recalls.

According to the latest UNAIDS report, an estimated 65,000 women over the age of 15 will be infected with HIV in Chad by 2023. The report also highlights that the HIV infection rate among women aged 15 to 49 years is 1.3%. To combat the virus, the Chadian government launched the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) program in 2005. The program aims to protect children born to HIV-positive mothers from infection during the three critical stages of pregnancy and delivery. and breastfeeding.

Overall, HIV care indicators for mothers and children in Chad have shown significant improvements. Chad has seen a significant decrease in mother-to-child transmission of HIV, from 29% in 2012 to 19% in 2023. According to the same UNAIDS report, 91,000 HIV-exposed children will test negative for HIV by 2023. Through the efforts of the PMTCT program, 1,300 new infant infections have been prevented. By comparison, in 2015 these figures were 82,000 and 1,100 respectively.

“We are proud of this progress,” said Dr. Hassan Ndengar, N’Djamena Southern Regional HIV Coordination Centre. “Preventing mother-to-child transmission really saves lives. Children are the strength of a country and they represent the next generation. That’s why we must invest in them and look after their health.” Dr. Ndengar believes that prevention is key. “We know that if we screen pregnant women, we will be able to reduce transmission rates. From there, we can break the chain of infection and reduce the prevalence in the population.”

Care for pregnant women is at the heart of Chad’s HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts. Midwives, like doctors and caregivers, play a key role in this fight as frontline workers. To strengthen their capabilities, they received technical and financial support from the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO’s support also includes the development of national guidelines and guidelines, and the implementation of monitoring and evaluation systems to ensure the effectiveness of these efforts.

In recent years, 750 health care workers have been trained in the comprehensive management of HIV and hepatitis in partnership with the department-wide HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infection program. “We understand that HIV/AIDS testing is compulsory for all women who come to antenatal consultation. From the first contact we must ensure they understand the importance of being screened.” Midwife, trained said Judith Haltebaye, one of the people who worked on the training. If the initial test is positive, a confirmatory test is performed. Women who test positive will receive free, comprehensive care, including counseling and antiretroviral medications (ARVs).

Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) save lives and give people living with HIV hope for a brighter future. In 2023, 7,700 pregnant women in Chad required antiretroviral treatment, 70% of whom received treatment, an increase from 64% in 2022. The care provided by the medical team profoundly changes people’s lives, as was the case in Menoje’s case. “The medicines helped me regain my strength. Before, I couldn’t lift anything, not even the cup next to me. Later, the delivery went smoothly and my daughter was born virus-free,” she shared.

The success of the PMTCT program and its achievements, especially the fact that most children are born HIV-free, are changing attitudes and building trust. “We see many HIV-positive women confidently committing to another pregnancy because they know that if they stick to the protocol, their baby will be healthy. They come back to us because they are receiving appropriate care,” Judith Holtbaye said. “Thanks to PMTCT, we’ve saved a lot of lives and I’m very proud of that.”

WHO works with governments, particularly through the Global Fund, to mobilize resources and support revisions of standards and guidelines, improved diagnostic tools, and strengthening of data management systems. In addition to addressing HIV, WHO is working to integrate hepatitis B and syphilis control into prevention of mother-to-child transmission programs and maternal, newborn and child health services.

Dr Blanche Anya, WHO Representative in Chad, said: “This program addresses three serious diseases affecting mothers and children and will allow us to improve maternal and child health, reduce mortality, strengthen health systems and maintain Human rights. ” “This approach is critical because it puts patients at the center of interventions we are working to promote health for all.”

Chad has made significant progress towards achieving the 95-95-95 targets set by the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for HIV testing, treatment and viral load suppression. In 2023, 71% of people living with HIV in Chad knew their status, and 86% of them were receiving antiretroviral treatment, compared with only 47% and 70% in 2015. Data on the third objective (viral load suppression) were not available.

In N’Djamena, a few months after her daughter was born, Menoje continued to receive treatment. For her, life has returned to a normal rhythm, almost making her forget about the virus she carries. “I feel great today and my kids are healthy. I still remember how happy I was when I heard my daughter’s results. It’s such a relief to know she’s healthy and I wish that for everyone living with HIV So, because every mother in the world wants the best for her child.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of the World Health Organization (WHO) – Chad.

RELATED ARTICLES

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Most Popular

Recent Comments