Civil Society Organization move to end Children infection with HIV
Civil Society Organization move to end Children infection with HIV
-Odunayo Ajani
Civil Society Organization move to end Children infection with HIV
A Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Niger state have set up a coalition to end and eliminate HIV among Children especially in rural areas with a bid of working towards a HIV free world.
The Society for the Elimination of HIV Among Children (SEHAC) is the coalition set up to sensitise, mobilise and educate the people about HIV and work towards keeping their mothers alive with minimal stigmatisation.
Speaking at the Inaugural meeting held on Thursday in Minna, the coalition SEHAC Zonal Coordinator , Dr. Ismailia Garba said that a lot of children have died with HIV at very tender age because they were given birth to with the virus adding that if there is enough sensitisation, which is one of the main objectives of the coalition, infected mothers would know how to protect their unborn babies from the virus.
Speaking further at the event he said that there is need for more hands to be on deck if Nigeria will attain its 90-90 targets in eliminating the disease adding that by ensuring children are not born with the virus will enable the effective management of the HIV virus.
Also continuing from where he stopped, Niger state Coordinator of SEHAC, Mrs. Mary Jalingo said that Nigeria is the largest burden of mother to child transmission of HIV in the world, lamenting that the number of pregnant women visiting health facilities across the state remains low.
Jalingo also stated that the number of facilities providing prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV across the state is also low.
Stressing the need to encourage women to come forward to prevent their babies from being born with HIV. Jalingo said.
“With an estimated 260,000 children from 0 to 14 hard living with HIV, only 12 percent have access to antiretroviral drugs. This is what this Coalition Seeks to address.”
She also added that the Coalition will embark on advocacy programs for the availability of drugs and sensitize the community and mothers with HIV on how to reduce mother to child transmission adding that there is a general believe that children everywhere can be born free of HIV with their mothers remaining alive.
“We intend sensitising leaders, providing leadership and innovation programme delivery, strengthening the capacity of women living with HIV, men and couples with HIV, prevention treatment programmes for mothers and children.”
Jalingo also emphasized the need to ensure continuous care of infants and young children with HIV positive parents.
