Educating to combat HIV/AIDS, STDs, tuberculosis and malaria with an emphasis on human rights
Describe the need affecting community
The country has evaluated the previous goals that had been established in 2010. Reducing them to less than 5% of vertical transmission by 2015, and a 90% coverage with antiretroviral regimens (ARV) drugs more effective. In December 2014, the ARV coverage of the population for the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) was 96%. The main challenges faced in Mozambique are related to retention and adherence to treatment related to adult and PMTCT Pediatric Antiretroviral Treatment (ART). The pediatric ART is among the main priorities of the Ministry of Health. According to the Spectrum in 2014, the number of children 0-14 years living with HIV was estimated at around 183 631 and of these, 121 983 children were eligible for ART. Family planning is one of the issues to be addressed as Mozambique is one of the countries with lot of young girls with unwanted pregnancies which shows that there is no safe sex practices among young people which may be also contributing to the increased new infections among this group. The experience we had last year was that 80% of people from remote area who had positive result for HIV were not able to follow up with the treatment. Along with their medication due to lack of financial support to pay transport from their own place to the health facility place. The proposed financial support is to help those who tested positive to go for laboratory tests which will determine the need or not for ART. Moreover there has been a great need to get pastors, and other church leaders involved in HIV support to people living with HIV. There is a need of debating theologically with pastors the care approach in the context of HIV. To find out right strategies to avoid condemnatory preaching approach which can lead HIV infected people not to seek pastors for spiritual support or hide themselves from their pastors.
How will this Advance project help to address the need?
Through supporting those who got HIV positive result and with no financial capability to go to hospital for lab tests. Through continuing the training of community health volunteers for community health education and counseling for HIV testing. Through organizing training with church leaders to develop the care approach preaching. To avoid that those who are living with AIDS continue not seeking spiritual support from their pastors, and feel free to voluntarily share the HIV results to them for the prayers and all needed support.
Describe the primary goal of the project
To reduce the transmission rates of HIV by 50% during a year of project implementation specially in pregnant women.