Global Health & HIV Clinical Services
IMPACT STORIES
A 17-year-old teenage mother presented to Chawama MCH over a year ago with her 9-month-old child. Unfortunately, she was found to be living with HIV. Her child tested negative although he was diagnosed with Severe Acute Malnutrition with chronic diarrhoea. The child was admitted to the paediatric ward and made a full recovery. They were also linked to the nutrition department and Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) services. They were paired with a mentor mother and subsequently linked to the CDU Rise-up team where she is now enrolled and learning life skills. At her last visit, this was her testimony: I am very happy today, because my child is 2 years and HIV free. I was almost giving up on everything but your counselling gave me so much hope. This year I am writing my final exams and knowing my child is well will help me to concentrate at school. My dream is that one day I will become a nurse and help others as you have helped me, thank you and may God bless you.
Mr. & Mrs. T are living happily as a discordant couple. Unfortunately, Mrs. T was found to be living with HIV at her 1st ANC booking visit. Her husband tested HIV negative. Mrs. T struggled to accept her status which she attributed to a sad history of sexual abuse which occurred when she was a teenager. This was a very difficult period in her life where she even contemplated taking her own life. Mrs. T was paired with a mentor mother who made frequent home visits and telephone calls to her providing her with psychosocial support and counseling. With the support of her husband and her mentor mother, Mrs. T eventually agreed to start antiretroviral therapy. Her husband also started taking Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). Currently, Mrs. T has a suppressed viral load and her husband remains HIV negative and is still on PrEP. The couple welcomed a healthy baby, who recently turned 6 months old and tested negative at this time.
