Project: Prevention of mother/child transmission of the HIV in pregnancy and at birth
Method: anti-HIV therapy is given to mother and child during labour and for the next few days
Place: in Dar es Salaam, capital of Tanzania population 2.4 million.
Length of time: three-year project - can be repeated
Local collaborators: Dar es Salaam Catholic diocese network of social assistance and healthcare government approved structures
Persons treated: 5,000 mothers and babies per year.
Project in detail
> Area: it is one of the first projects of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa (hitherto activity was restricted to experimental research in big hospitals).
> Types of assistance: preventive therapy is combined with a variety of other assistance: health-education for individuals husband and wide, and groups; ordinary medical care; food aid; psychological, social and economic support for orphans and families in need; scholastic support; micro-loans for businesses mainly for women.
> Integration of services: 2 networks: one to fight AIDS the other to care for mother/child; they are interconnected to offer complete packets with one contact and increase follow-up capacity also at home.
> Sustainability: the project is run almost entirely by Tanzania personnel with local resources (outside assistance is mainly professional updating, supervision and counselling).
> Rooted in the community: parish group youth groups, professional groups, pastoral councils are all involved to overcome prejudice.
When it started: 16 February 2002 mother Saphia and baby Julius were the first to receive preventative therapy
Promoters: CUUAM Doctors with Africa; Italian organisations: Ulss 16 Office; Padova Hospital; Caritas Antoniana.
Results:
The work of the HIV laboratory is profitable in quantity and quality with an average of 1,000 closely monitored HIV tests per month. The basis have been laid for a pilot project to prevent HIV mother/child transmission (Pmtct +) – with three antiretroviral drugs for mother and baby for six months instead of one dose, as soon as the government authorisation is obtained.
What can be done to help?
Costs:
HIV test costs 1 Euro.
Antiretroviral treatment for mother and child 5 Euro.
Caesarean birth 30 Euro.
Training social worker 50 Euro.
One year schooling for orphaned child 100 Euro.
(AP) (3/4/2004 Agenzia Fides)