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We believe that effecting change is done by finding key individuals who are both smart and dedicated, and who also possess the ability to simply 'make something happen. That trait is indefinable, but we know it when For several years we have helped pregnant African women to be tested for HIV. If their blood contains HIV antibodies they are eligible to receive a particular oral antiretroviral medication at the onset of labor. Their newborns are given about 6 ml. of the same medicine in syrup within three days of birth. The effect of this is to reduce by 50% the probability that a mother living with HIV would pass the virus to her baby. Of course the medications are not given unless the mother's HIV status is known, and this is the tricky part. The diagnosis itself prompts fear. Sometimes a husband's anticipated reaction to such a diagnosis engenders fear (even though he likely infected her.) Stigma attaches to HIV as well in tightly knit communities so many women do not want to be HIV tested on that account. A final impediment to being tested is paradoxically that the Malawi government has imposed mandatory testing at all hospitals and clinics. A result is that a growing number of women do not attend clinic-based pre-natal programs at all, preferring instead to see traditional healers and traditional birth attendants. A wonderful Malawi woman is developing a project to meet with traditional healers and birth attendants to discuss with them the seriousness of HIV infections. She will explore methods, occasions, and circumstances when they might refer women to 'western' health centers for HIV testing and if necessary antiretroviral therapy. We believe this will be an important strategy in southern Malawi and that it will save the lives of many children. What comes to us from our generous donors is forwarded to people like these, whose resourcefulness more than warrants our respect and our support. An awful lot of people are helped who would otherwise receive nothing at all. And we are, as always, very grateful for your help. Rev. Dr. William Rankin Email GAIA info@thegaia.org • Tel 415-461-7196 • Visit our website: http://www.thegaia.org |
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