Brenda, a 25-year-old mother, attended her first
antenatal visit for her second pregnancy. During
the group counseling, the health visitor discussed
HIV/AIDS transmission from a mother to her child
and ways to reduce this transmission. Brenda,
who was about twelve weeks pregnant, underwent
individual pre-test counseling on HIV and agreed
to take the HIV test.
During her second visit, the nurse shared the HIV
test results which were stamped in red on the form
“HIV antibodies detected.” Upon learning of her
HIV test, Brenda experienced a range of emotions
from disbelief to hurt. It took some time before the
health workers could calm Brenda by reassuring
her that she could live a healthy life with HIV.
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USAID’s program is enabling women throughout
the country to access HIV counseling and testing
services, and if tested positive, to receive drugs to
prevent newborn infections. The program also
helps build stronger health care systems to reach
as many women as possible. The overall goal is
to support Guyana's reduction of current mother
to child transmission of HIV rates by 50% by
2008, and to continue to assist the Guyanan
Government in expanding and strengthening the
existing effort.
Two hours before her baby’s delivery, Brenda was
given the short course of antiretroviral
prophylaxis, and the baby was given a pediatric
course of nevirapine. As a result, her baby is
now HIV negative. Brenda is one of 2,783 women
who received PMTCT services in 2003. Under
this program, Brenda continued her antenatal
care and received further counseling on infant
feeding, safe sex practices, as well as family
planning. Brenda also joined a support group of
HIV positive mothers at the health center.
After giving birth, Brenda became an advocate
and educator of the Network of People Living
with HIV/AIDS. She is now permanently
employed on a project being implemented by
that organization. “Today I can use myself as
an example to talk to other women about
HIV/AIDS,” said Brenda. “I am not ashamed of
my condition, and feel that I can use my
experience to help others.” Brenda has
demonstrated that HIV positive persons can
make a positive contribution in the fight against
HIV and AIDS.
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