MAMA+ Supports 100 HIV-Affected Babies In Russia

Dear friends,

MAMA+ project staff members continue to provide support to women and children affected by HIV.
We would like to extend our gratitude to you for your trust and support of our work, and tell about people we work with. The ultimate goal of our work is to ensure family support, healthcare, safety and well-being for children affected by HIV.
Today we are happy to share a follow-up story about Alina whose family continues to receive a comprehensive psychosocial assistance under the MAMA+ project.
Regular consultations by the project psychologist helped Alina strengthen her self-esteem, overcome a number of problems, including codependent behavior. The woman got an official divorce from her husband, and due to the support of the organization’s legal expert registered for spousal support. However, the man has no permanent employment: he is unable to provide any financial support to the family. Nor is he interested in the future of his children.
The woman is actively engaged in care and development of her children. All of them have medical conditions. Her younger sons were diagnosed delays in development, speech function disorders. According to medical specialists, the boys are in need of a continuous intake of costly medications that the family cannot afford given their financial hardships. Her older son is under regular check-up by a psychiatrist, also in need of continuous treatment and medical monitoring, and goes to a correction school. Alina’s younger daughter is allergic and needs specialized milk formulas and dietary foods.
Due to the project support, Alina registered for social allowances, however this money is only enough to buy food for her kids. Clothes and learning toys and games for children, supplies for school are provided to the family as items of DTC’s humanitarian aid.
Alina brings her children to the MAMA+ Center regularly for child development sessions. The project psychologist confirms significant progress in their development and the quality of interaction between the mother and children. Alina loves her children much and wants to be a good mother. The woman has attended a cycle of sessions under Healthy Lifestyles and Digital Literacy programs conducted by the project staff members. This training strengthened her social skills and competences. Now she takes more care of her and her children’s health. She regularly attends the AIDS Center for medical examinations and takes ARV therapy. Upon improving her computer skills, the woman found a work-at-home job. Unfortunately, almost all the money earned is spent on renting the apartment (Alina and her children have recently moved here from their relatives). Due to financial hardships, the woman has accumulated arrears in paying for her housing.

MAMA+ social worker and legal expert are assisting Alina in applying for social housing. We hope that everything will be alright, and the woman will be able to raise their children on her own soon without support of the project staff members. Let us unite our efforts in helping this wonderful mother and her children.