Preventing HIV in South African Babies

It has been estimated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) that worldwide there are 490,000 cases of active TB and sickness in children, and 64,000 deaths of children from TB each year.This is the estimate for HIV negative children, as children who have TB and who are also HIV positive when they die, are internationally classified as having died from HIV. Many people think that these figures are a significant underestimate.

In high burden TB settings it has been noted that 15-20% of all TB cases are among children, whereas in low burden TB settings it is estimated that 2-7% of all TB cases are among children.

In commemoration of the post-World TB Day Awareness dated 24 March 2015; Children’s Rights Centre in partnership with Yezingane Network (Secretariat of the children’s sector) shared on its social media an informative TB fact sheet informing and reminding people about the risks of TB and how it can be treated. This was after it was identified in previous reports that tuberculosis mostly affected young adults in their most productive years and South Africa being one of the countries with the highest burden.

The organization has also been constantly active in social media by posting updates on important health calendar dates. These included the following dates:

• STI/ CONDOM AWARENESS WEEK: 10 – 16 FEBRUARY 2015: This was used as a platform to remind the public at large that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are not new and needed to realize that anyone is a target and only very safe sexual behaviors would decrease their risk of infection hence everyone was being encouraged to practice safe sex by using a condom!
• PREGNANCY AWARENESS WEEK: 10 – 16 FEBRUARY 2015: Since the organization had been actively involved in the PMTCT Campaign; this year’s Pregnancy Awareness week was basically to educate and remind all women about the PMTCT (Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission) of HIV/AIDS. This is a programme which was designed and aimed at stopping the spread of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) from mothers to their children with a goal to keep women and children healthy, improving their quality of life and lowering deaths.

Amongst other things that Children’s Rights Centre has been actively involved in; a radio interview was scheduled with one of the local radio stations. The focus of the interview was around Infant Feeding and HIV and the importance & benefits of breastfeeding while HIV positive. This was a significant interview as it also forms a huge part of the PMTCT Campaign.

According to UNICEF without preventive interventions, approximately one-third of infants born to HIV-positive mothers contract HIV through mother-to-child transmission, becoming infected during their mothers' pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.

This is why we try by all means at any given chance to promote and remind all women about the benefits of breastfeeding.

PS. Benefits of breastfeeding are the same for HIV positive or negative women.