N’Djamena – Judith Haltebaye, a midwife with 15 years of journey, has spent the past seven years serving on the Abena-Atetip Health Centre in central N’Djamena. Over the years, she has supported hundreds of women correct through their pregnancies and past. For some, her care involves highly protest follow-ups, as in the case of 34-300 and sixty five days-aged Menodjie, who is residing with HIV. “Menodjie came for a consultation in January, and through routine tests, we discovered she was living with HIV. At the time, she was expecting her second child,” Judith recounts.
In Chad, an estimated 65 000 ladies over the age of 15 were residing with HIV in 2023, in step with the latest UNAIDS represent. The represent also highlighted an HIV occurrence rate of 1.3% amongst ladies outdated skool 15 to 49 years. To wrestle the virus, the Authorities of Chad launched the Prevention of Mother-to-Youngster Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) Programme in 2005. The initiative objectives to give protection to children born to HIV-determined moms from infection correct through three serious stages: being pregnant, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
Overall, indicators of HIV like moms and children in Chad possess shown famous improvement. The rate of mother-to-small one transmission of HIV in Chad has a wonderful deal declined, losing from 29% in 2012 to 19% in 2023. By 2023, in step with the similar UNAIDS represent, 91 000 HIV-exposed children had tested harmful for the virus, and 1300 fresh child infections had been refrained from during the efforts of the PMTCT Programme. In comparability, these figures were 82 000 and 1100 respectively, in 2015.
“We’re proud of this progress,” says Dr Hassan Ndengar, HIV focal level for the southern district of N’Djamena. “PMTCT really saves lives. Children are the strength of a country, and they represent the future generation. That is why we must invest in them and look after their health.” In Dr Ndengar’s conception, prevention is key. “We know that if we screen pregnant women, we’ll be able to reduce transmission rate. From there, we can break the chain of infection and lower the prevalence within the population.”
Providing like pregnant ladies is central to Chad’s efforts to prevent and management HIV/AIDS. Midwives, alongside scientific doctors and paramedics, play a pivotal role as front-line group in this fight. To toughen their skill, they possess technical and financial give a be pleased conclude to from World Health Organization (WHO). WHO’s give a be pleased conclude to has also integrated the improvement of national guides and guidelines, to boot to the implementation of monitoring and review systems to be race the effectiveness of these efforts.
In collaboration with the Sector-wide HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections Programme, 750 healthcare group were professional in latest years on the comprehensive management of HIV and hepatitis. “We learned that HIV/AIDS testing is a must for all women who come for antenatal consultations. From the very first contact, we must ensure they understand the importance of being screened,” says Judith Haltebaye, a midwife and one of many professional group. If the initial take a look at is determined, a confirmatory take a look at is performed. Women who take a look at determined are then supplied with free, comprehensive care, at the side of counselling and antiretroviral medicines (ARVs).
Antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) place lives and gives other folks residing with HIV the hope of a brighter future. In 2023, 7700 pregnant ladies in Chad required ARV medication, and 70% of them got it, an amplify from 64% in 2022. The care supplied by healthcare groups has profoundly changed lives, as in the case of Menodjie. “These medicines have given me back my strength. Before, I couldn’t lift anything, not even a cup near me. Afterwards, the delivery went well, and my daughter was born without the virus,” she shares.
The success of the PMTCT Programme and its achievements namely the huge majority of children being born HIV-free are reworking attitudes and building believe. “We’ve seen many HIV-positive women confidently commit to another pregnancy because they know their baby will be healthy if they follow the protocol. They come back to us because they received proper care,” says Judith Haltebaye. “Thanks to PMTCT, we’re saving a lot of lives, and I’m very proud of that.”
In collaboration with the Authorities, WHO is engaged in resource mobilization, namely during the Global Fund, and helps the revision of standards and guidelines, the enhancement of diagnostic instruments, and the strengthening of info management systems. Beyond addressing HIV, WHO is working to integrate the management of hepatitis B and syphilis into the PMTCT Programme, to boot to into maternal, neonatal, and small one successfully being companies.
“This programme, which addresses three critical diseases affecting mothers and children, will enable us to improve maternal and child health, reduce mortality rates, strengthen the health system, and uphold human rights,” said Dr Blanche Anya, WHO Consultant in Chad. “This approach is vital because it places the patient at the centre of interventions. We are working to promote health for all.”
Chad has made famous progress toward achieving the 95-95-95 targets space by the Joint United International locations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for HIV trying out, medication, and viral load suppression. In 2023, 71% of oldsters residing with HIV in Chad knew their space, and 86% of those were on ARV medication when when put next with correct 47% and 70%, respectively, in 2015. Knowledge on the third goal, viral load suppression, weren’t accessible.
In N’Djaména, a few months after the beginning of her daughter, Menodjie continues her medication. For her, life has returned to a customary trudge, almost making her neglect the virus she’s residing with. “I feel good today, and my children are healthy too. I still remember how happy I was when I heard my daughter’s results. Knowing that she is healthy is a great relief, which I wish for all people living with HIV because every mother in the world wants the best for her child.”
