Project AIDSFREE aims to prevent new HIV infections of new-born babies. We inform, care for and accompany young mothers and pregnant young women over a long period of time so that they give birth to healthy babies and raise them child-friendly.
Promoting knowledge about HIV and parental care
Today there are many promising medical possibilities to reduce the transmission of HIV between mother and child drastically: trained intake of HIV medication during pregnancy in combination with other strategies, the transmission can be reduced to just under 2%. However, knowledge of this medical option is not yet widespread enough in Kenya.
Preventing new infections of new-born babies
Within the project AIDSFREE young women at risk of HIV and their children are cared for during and after pregnancy:
- Reducing transmission of diseases through prenatal care, HIV testing and preventing actions
- Improvement of baby’s health and prevention from new infections
- Supporting supervised women in questions of health, psychosocial and general issues
- Raising awareness of the community, the relatives and the living environment of the supervised women
Working with and in the Community
The programme is organised through household-visits in the communities of Kolwa East, Miwani and Kajulu. An AIDSFREE team is made up of three people including a mentor and two “Household Facilitators” (one woman and one man each). Every Team is looking after five to eight young women. The mentors are the contact figures to the women. They support and accompany them during their pregnancy, create awareness among relatives, inform them about medical options and explain medication or for example the medical records of the mother-child passport. Household facilitators support the mentors in their work, but are particularly active in the respective community and try to build mutual trust and exchange between the community, the relatives and the project. By now we have trained twelve teams, which already work with 98 young women. In addition, their tasks are coordinated by four supervisors
Background
Almost every fifth person in Kisumu county is infected with HIV (Kenya Aids Response Progress Report, 2016). The open dealing with HIV is still not possible in Kenya. Many people lack the knowledge about transmission, control and medical treatment. This also affects pregnant women: the fear of an HIV test and medical treatment is great, because they fear that they and their child(s) will be excluded or stigmatised by the community if the test result is positive.
Together we can support HIV infected mothers and their children
Please help us to continue this important project. Every support is 100% beneficial to the project. Administrative costs are covered by specific donations. Please support the project and give a smile to our children. Your donation is tax deductible!
