Dr Moshood Salawu is a Senior Maternal Perinatal Death Surveillance & Response (MPDSR) Advisor on Options Consultancy Services’ -Evidence for Action (E4A)-MamaYe programme. In this interview with our Health Editor, Hassan Zaggi, he enumerated ways CSOs can contribute in preventing Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV.
Excepts:
About 220,000 children under the age of 15 are living with HIV in Nigeria, what are the roles of CSO’s in ensuring all these children get the right ARVs and are not infecting other innocent children
The role of CSOs in addressing the challenges faced by children under the age of 15 living with HIV in Nigeria is pivotal in ensuring their access to proper treatment and preventing further transmission. CSOs play a significant role in advocacy for funding. CSOs can advocate for increased funding from government and international donors specifically designated for pediatric HIV care and treatment programs. This ensures that adequate resources are allocated to meet the needs of children living with HIV.
Another role that can be played by the CSOs is awareness and education. CSOs can engage in public awareness campaigns to educate communities about pediatric HIV, its transmission, treatment options, and the importance of early diagnosis and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ARVs).
Early Detection and Diagnosis: CSOs can work to improve access to early HIV testing and diagnosis for children. They can advocate for more child-friendly testing and diagnostic facilities in healthcare centers.
Support for Pediatric Treatment Centers: CSOs can collaborate with healthcare facilities to establish and strengthen pediatric treatment centers that are equipped to provide comprehensive care, counseling, and ARV distribution tailored to children’s needs.
Medication Access: CSOs can advocate for consistent availability of child-appropriate antiretroviral medications. They can also work to reduce barriers to accessing medication, such as transportation costs or stigmatization.
Treatment Adherence Support: CSOs can provide psychosocial support and adherence counseling to children and their families, ensuring they understand the importance of adhering to the treatment regimen to suppress the virus and prevent resistance.
Capacity Building: CSOs can train healthcare providers to specialize in pediatric HIV care, equipping them with the necessary skills to provide comprehensive and child-friendly treatment services.
Stigma Reduction: CSOs can work to reduce the stigma associated with pediatric HIV by promoting community education and acceptance, ensuring children receive necessary care without discrimination.
Data Collection and Monitoring: CSOs can collaborate with healthcare systems to collect accurate data on pediatric HIV cases, treatment adherence, and outcomes. This data helps in assessing the effectiveness of interventions and identifying areas for improvement.
10. Policy Advocacy: CSOs can advocate for policies that prioritize pediatric HIV care, such as the inclusion of child-friendly ARV formulations in national treatment guidelines.
Research and Innovation: CSOs can support and participate in research efforts focused on improving pediatric HIV treatment options, including the development of better-tolerated medications and interventions.
By engaging in these roles, CSOs contribute significantly to improving the lives of children living with HIV in Nigeria, ensuring they receive proper treatment, care, and support while working to prevent further transmission of the virus to other vulnerable children.
How can CSO’s create awareness in ensuring every infected woman have access to ARV in order to prevent infection from mother to child?
Preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and ensuring access to antiretroviral therapy (ARV) for infected individuals are critical components of addressing the HIV epidemic. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in creating awareness and advocating for comprehensive PMTCT and ARV access.
CSOs can contribute to prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in any ways. Some of the ways include public awareness campaigns. CSOs can design and implement public awareness campaigns to educate pregnant women and their families about the importance of HIV testing during pregnancy, the benefits of PMTCT, and the availability of ARV treatment. These campaigns can use various channels such as radio, television, social media, and community gatherings.
Community Sensitization. CSOs can organize community engagement sessions, town hall meetings, and workshops to sensitize communities about PMTCT and ARV access. They can address myths, misconceptions, and stigmas associated with HIV, promoting accurate information.
Partnering with Health Facilities: CSOs can collaborate with healthcare facilities to ensure that healthcare providers are trained to counsel pregnant women on PMTCT options and encourage them to access ARV treatment for themselves and their babies.
Home-Based Testing and Counseling: CSOs can facilitate home-based HIV testing and counseling services to reach pregnant women who may not readily access healthcare facilities. This approach promotes early detection and linkage to care.
Supporting Pregnant Women: CSOs can provide psychosocial support and counseling to pregnant women living with HIV, addressing their fears, concerns, and misconceptions about ARV treatment and PMTCT.
Empowering Women: CSOs can empower women with knowledge about their rights to healthcare services, including PMTCT and ARV treatment. This empowerment encourages women to demand their entitlements and navigate the healthcare system effectively.
Engaging men and families: CSOs can involve men and families in PMTCT and ARV access efforts by highlighting the role of supportive partners and family members in encouraging pregnant women to seek testing and adhere to treatment.
Advocacy for policy change: CSOs can advocate for policies that promote PMTCT and ARV access, including policies that reduce barriers to testing, improve access to treatment, and reduce stigma and discrimination.
Monitoring and Accountability: CSOs can monitor the implementation of PMTCT and ARV access programs to ensure that services are provided as intended. They can also hold governments and healthcare institutions accountable for meeting targets.
Youth Engagement: CSOs can engage young people in awareness campaigns about PMTCT and ARV access. This is especially important for preventing new infections among adolescents and young adults.
Data Collection and Reporting: CSOs can collaborate with healthcare systems to collect data on PMTCT and ARV access rates, helping to identify gaps and tailor interventions accordingly.
By actively engaging in these strategies, CSOs contribute significantly to raising awareness about PMTCT and promoting access to ARV treatment for individuals living with HIV. This collective effort contributes to reducing new infections and improving the health and well-being of both mothers and their children.
