By Jim Grant | Executive Director
The word “care” can mean many things. At Maison de Naissance (MN), it means that women receive counseling, education, medicines, lab tests, and loving attention every day, from expertly trained and dedicated members of our staff. It means that these elements of caring are provided without charge, and without discrimination, to all women who come to us. This is particularly important for women infected with HIV, the virus which can cause AIDS if left untreated.
In Haiti, as is true all over the world, there is a stigma attached to having a HIV positive test, and it can be difficult for a woman to accept the news. The counseling that accompanies this testing, both before and after, sets the stage for our mothers to understand that there is hope - that they can receive medications to help keep the virus under control, and to prevent their baby from becoming infected. Collaboration with the PEPFAR program at MN helps provide medication and the staff necessary to expertly complete the record keeping that insures all of our patients are tested, and all of the HIV positive mothers are given medicine in labor to keep their babies safe.
This is just one element of the care received at MN, but it’s a vital part of Berneice’s story:
Berneice’s husband was HIV positive when they met and married, but he did not share this news with her. She was thrilled when she became pregnant right away, and went to Maison de Naissance for an early prenatal visit. HIV/AIDS testing is a routine part of every pregnancy's first prenatal consultation. Berneice was devastated to learn that she tested positive for the virus, having had no other partners besides her husband. She felt very alone, never having known anyone who survived with HIV. Her treatment, including nutrition counseling and a referral to the Mother's Club, began right away.
After several visits to MN, she overcame the stigma of testing positive, and began connecting with the MN Mothers’ Club, where she met other women living with HIV and their healthy babies. They told her of their own experiences, and how the treatment worked to prevent transmission of the virus to their children. Berneice was able to complete her course of daily medication, kept her nutrition up, pulled herself out of depression, and delivered a healthy baby boy with the help of MN's dedicated midwifery staff.
When Berneice brought her baby boy back for a well baby checkup, she proudly showed him off to the staff who turned her life around.
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By Jim Grant | Executive Director
By Jim Grant | Executive Director
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