2023-05-28 19:32:06
This Friday, May 26, a march took place in Port-Au-Prince, as a prelude to Mother’s Day. Under the coordination of Housing Works and its partners, this event aimed to demand improvements in living conditions, equitable access to treatment and an end to stigmatization towards people affected by HIV/AIDS.
After a press conference held earlier in the morning of Friday May 26, men and women activists, all carrying placards, gathered at Rue Fernand, Canapé Vert. With a determined step, they then embarked on a march through the streets of the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince, with the final destination of the Ministry for the Status of Women. Their objective: to make their voices heard and to sensitize government authorities with a view to improving living conditions, equitable access to treatment and the end of stigmatization towards people, especially mothers, affected by HIV/AIDS.
In an interview with Loop Haiti, Johanne Zidor, communications manager at Housing Works, highlighted the importance of this initiative focused on mother-to-child transmission of HIV. She stressed the need to raise awareness among young people and mothers living with HIV/AIDS through this activity, while drawing the government’s attention to this issue.
The main objective of this initiative is to shed light on the transmission of HIV from mother to child. We are committed to raising awareness among young people and mothers living with HIV/AIDS, paying particular attention to this critical situation. In addition, we hope to draw the government’s attention to this problem in order to promote concrete measures
Marie Malia Jean Fleuri Charles, who has been living with AIDS for 28 years, stressed the urgency of combating the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child, highlighting the potential consequences for future generations. According to her, society must mobilize collectively, because children born with HIV/AIDS will coexist with other uninfected children, which risks aggravating the spread of the disease among the next generation. His words resonate like a pressing call to act to prevent this transmission and guarantee a healthy future for the children to come.
The fight against the transmission of HIV/AIDS from mother to child must be everyone’s cause. Children born with HIV/AIDS will grow up alongside other HIV-negative children, which may lead to an increase in the disease in the next generation to come
According to the latest data published by the Ministry of Public Health and Population, in 2021, Haiti had approximately 336,000 pregnant women. Of these, 150,000 received prenatal services and were tested for HIV/AIDS.
MSPP analysis reveals that in 2021, the HIV/AIDS prevalence rate was 2.6%. Of the women already on antiretroviral treatment, 2,460 became pregnant. In addition, 1,560 new pregnant women were diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and immediately started medical treatment.
The MSPP also recorded 3,432 children exposed to HIV/AIDS, born to mothers infected with this disease during the same year. The seropositivity rate among these children was 3.70%. This means that approximately 3.70% of the 3,432 exposed children tested positive for HIV/AIDS.
“These figures underscore the continued need to strengthen efforts to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Haiti, by putting in place strategies for early detection, adequate treatment and follow-up for pregnant women and exposed children. “, said Johanne Zidor.
Ravensley Boisrond
1685311653
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