N’Djamena – Judith Haltebaye, a midwife with 15 years of expertise, has spent the previous seven years serving on the Abena-Atetip Well being Centre in central N’Djamena. Through the years, she has supported lots of of girls all through their pregnancies and past. For some, her care entails extremely particular follow-ups, as within the case of 34-year-old Menodjie, who resides with HIV. “Menodjie got here for a session in January, and thru routine assessments, we found she was dwelling with HIV. On the time, she was anticipating her second youngster,” Judith recounts.
In Chad, an estimated 65 000 ladies over the age of 15 had been dwelling with HIV in 2023, based on the most recent UNAIDS report. The report additionally highlighted an HIV prevalence price of 1.3% amongst ladies aged 15 to 49 years. To fight the virus, the Authorities of Chad launched the Prevention of Mom-to-Youngster Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) Programme in 2005. The initiative goals to guard youngsters born to HIV-positive moms from an infection throughout three important phases: being pregnant, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
General, indicators of HIV look after moms and kids in Chad have proven important enchancment. The speed of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Chad has considerably declined, dropping from 29% in 2012 to 19% in 2023. By 2023, based on the identical UNAIDS report, 91 000 HIV-exposed youngsters had examined destructive for the virus, and 1300 new toddler infections had been prevented by the efforts of the PMTCT Programme. Compared, these figures had been 82 000 and 1100 respectively, in 2015.
“We’re happy with this progress,” says Dr Hassan Ndengar, HIV point of interest for the southern district of N’Djamena. “PMTCT actually saves lives. Youngsters are the energy of a rustic, and so they symbolize the long run era. That’s the reason we should put money into them and take care of their well being.” In Dr Ndengar’s opinion, prevention is essential. “We all know that if we display pregnant ladies, we’ll be capable to cut back transmission price. From there, we will break the chain of an infection and decrease the prevalence throughout the inhabitants.”
Offering look after pregnant ladies is central to Chad’s efforts to forestall and management HIV/AIDS. Midwives, alongside medical doctors and paramedics, play a pivotal position as front-line staff on this struggle. To strengthen their capability, they’ve acquired technical and monetary help from World Well being Group (WHO). WHO’s help has additionally included the event of nationwide guides and pointers, in addition to the implementation of monitoring and analysis techniques to make sure the effectiveness of those efforts.
In collaboration with the Sector-wide HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programme, 750 healthcare staff have been educated lately on the great administration of HIV and hepatitis. “We discovered that HIV/AIDS testing is a should for all ladies who come for antenatal consultations. From the very first contact, we should guarantee they perceive the significance of being screened,” says Judith Haltebaye, a midwife and one of many educated staff. If the preliminary take a look at is constructive, a confirmatory take a look at is performed. Ladies who take a look at constructive are then supplied with free, complete care, together with counselling and antiretroviral medicines (ARVs).
Antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) save lives and provides individuals dwelling with HIV the hope of a brighter future. In 2023, 7700 pregnant ladies in Chad required ARV therapy, and 70% of them acquired it, a rise from 64% in 2022. The care supplied by healthcare groups has profoundly modified lives, as within the case of Menodjie. “These medicines have given me again my energy. Earlier than, I could not carry something, not even a cup close to me. Afterwards, the supply went effectively, and my daughter was born with out the virus,” she shares.
The success of the PMTCT Programme and its achievements notably nearly all of youngsters being born HIV-free are remodeling attitudes and constructing belief. “We have seen many HIV-positive ladies confidently commit to a different being pregnant as a result of they know their child shall be wholesome in the event that they observe the protocol. They arrive again to us as a result of they acquired correct care,” says Judith Haltebaye. “Due to PMTCT, we’re saving quite a lot of lives, and I am very happy with that.”
In collaboration with the Authorities, WHO is engaged in useful resource mobilization, notably by the World Fund, and helps the revision of requirements and pointers, the enhancement of diagnostic instruments, and the strengthening of information administration techniques. Past addressing HIV, WHO is working to combine the management of hepatitis B and syphilis into the PMTCT Programme, in addition to into maternal, neonatal, and youngster well being providers.
“This programme, which addresses three important ailments affecting moms and kids, will allow us to enhance maternal and youngster well being, cut back mortality charges, strengthen the well being system, and uphold human rights,” mentioned Dr Blanche Anya, WHO Consultant in Chad. “This strategy is significant as a result of it locations the affected person on the centre of interventions. We’re working to advertise well being for all.”
Chad has made important progress towards attaining the 95-95-95 targets set by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for HIV testing, therapy, and viral load suppression. In 2023, 71% of individuals dwelling with HIV in Chad knew their standing, and 86% of these had been on ARV therapy in comparison with simply 47% and 70%, respectively, in 2015. Knowledge on the third goal, viral load suppression, weren’t out there.
In N’Djaména, a number of months after the beginning of her daughter, Menodjie continues her therapy. For her, life has returned to a standard tempo, nearly making her overlook the virus she’s dwelling with. “I really feel good right this moment, and my youngsters are wholesome too. I nonetheless bear in mind how completely satisfied I used to be after I heard my daughter’s outcomes. Figuring out that she is wholesome is a superb reduction, which I want for all individuals dwelling with HIV as a result of each mom on the earth needs the very best for her youngster.”