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Ghana AIDS Ambassadors to Reduce Mother to Child Transmission

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The
Heart–to-Heart (H2H) Ambassadors of the Ghana AIDS Commission have
kick-started the “H2H ANC Caravan”, a campaign aimed at reaching
pregnant women with information on HIV treatment services.

 

 
   The Ambassadors would conduct visits to antenatal and antiretroviral
sites in fourteen health facilities in the Greater Accra Region, during
which they would encourage Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission
of HIV (PMTCT), couple testing and counselling.

 

 
   A statement issued by the Ghana Aids Commission said the tour which
is in line with the global and national call for the virtual elimination
of mother to child HIV transmission will be officially launched at the
La General Hospital on Wednesday April 15.

 

 
   The Commission said the primary mode of transmission of HIV to
children and infants is from mother to child during pregnancy, labour
and delivery, or during breastfeeding.

 

   
 For this reason, the ANC and ART site tour will offer the H2H
Ambassadors the opportunity to dispel misconceptions that impede
antenatal attendance and HIV treatment. 

 

 
   The tour started at the Ridge Hospital in Accra when the H2H team
led by Rev. John Azumah, visited the Antenatal Care Unit of the Hospital
and counselled expectant mothers on the need to know their HIV status
and be put on treatment to stop transmission of HIV to their babies.

 

 
   The statement said Reverend Azumah on his part encouraged the
pregnant women not to be apprehensive when asked to check their HIV
status but see it as a means of safeguarding the health of both mother
and baby.

 

     The H2H Ambassadors also
urged the pregnant women on antiretroviral treatment (ART) to take their
drugs as prescribed by health practitioners.

 

 
   The ambassador said with the use of antiretroviral drugs, an HIV
positive mother’s chances of transferring the virus to her baby, reduces
to lower than five percent as opposed to the about 40 per cent chance
if the woman is not on treatment.

 

     At
the Antiretroviral unit, persons living with HIV who had come for
treatment were also enlightened on how to live healthy lifestyles and
stick to the directives of health professionals.

 

 
   The Heart-to-Heart Ambassadors are four persons living with HIV who
have dedicated their lives to sharing their life stories to encourage a
more tolerant attitude towards persons living with HIV who face stigma
and discrimination daily.

 

 

 
 
 
Source: GNA

Kofi Oppong Kyekyeku

I am a Ghanaian Broadcast Journalist/Writer who has an interest in General News, Sports, Entertainment, Health, Lifestyle and many more.

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