UNICEF Lesotho Voices - The Blessing

Mathakane Metsing, 24, is HIV positive and very open about her status. Her 18-month-old daughter Blessing was born free from HIV because Mathakane went through a comprehensive prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme in Mafeteng Hospital in Lesotho, services which are supported by UNICEF.

Mathakane now uses her personal experiences to counsel other women about the importance of preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

In the African kingdom of Lesotho almost one in every four adults is living with HIV, the third highest HIV prevalence rate in the world. One in three pregnant women in antenatal care is HIV positive, meaning that every year thousands of children risk being born with HIV, passed from mother to child during pregnancy or birth.

UNICEF has helped to increase the number of clinics and hospitals offering Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) services that reduce the chances of babies being born with HIV. In these clinics, every pregnant mother is tested for HIV, given counselling and advice and if necessary, put on a life-saving anti retroviral (ARV) drug regime. Within eight hours of the birth, the newborn is also given a dose of the ARV Nevirapine. All of this increases the chances of the baby being born free from HIV.

However, despite ongoing efforts, today only 20% of all HIV positive women in the country can access PMTCT. As a result, one in ten of all babies are born with HIV in Lesotho.

Photographer Gideon Mendel travelled to Lesotho in November 2007 and the resulting Lesotho Voices films, images and words tell the personal stories of several women there. The women are from different regions of the country, all are living with HIV. Some of them have benefited from PMTCT. Others have suffered without access to these vital services.

Find out more by visiting the Youth Voice website: www.unicef.org.uk/youthvoice/bornfree.asp.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• unicef
• hiv
• aids
• africa
• lesotho
• women
• babies
• born
• free
• campaign

[time2sk8t]

what a beautiful baby - Blessing

[akabrothers2000]

go back to school sweet, i feel sorry for your family

[buttonbenny]

You are a sad excuse for a human being

[PLOCKMESH]

wtf she is a nigger and she is from africa and she was shocked she has aids? If i had sex with 1 person in africa i would be shocked if i didnt have aids.

[projectpinc]

Insanely well done

[mishane]

Dios bendice estas almas que quedan solas a causa de la ignorancia y la irresponsabilidad de personas promiscuas en nombre de tu hijo Jesus ...Amen