Sensitization Vital To HIV/AIDS Fight From Mother To Child – Traditional Ruler

In order to eradicate the transmission of Human Immune Virus, HIV, from mother to child, ‎‎the Agolotu of Badagry Kingdom, Ganho Community, Badagry, High Chief Samuel Hundogan, has said community sensitization is key to the Prevention of HIV from Mother To Child Transmission, (PMTCT).

Speaking to our correspondent, the traditional ruler said, “in curtailing PMTCT in Ganho community Badagry, we sensitize the mothers in the palace of the Akran of Badagry, we call on medical doctors from the general hospital to give these women health talk. These further enlighten them on what to do to prevent HIV and seek medical attention. We also sensitize the pregnant women because without treatment, the likelihood of the HIV to transfer to the unborn child is very high.

“We involve the men concerning HIV counselling. We believe it is a two way thing. We do not just educate them on HIV prevention, we also talk on immunization, family planning, nutrition. All these is geared towards reducing the mortality rate of women and children under age five in the community.”

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‎He also spoke on the need to stop stigmatization of people living with HIV/ AIDS as it kills faster than the virus itself, adding that stigma and discrimination can hinder a pregnant woman with the knowledge of Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) and PMTCT from accessing treatment for themselves and unborn child.

‎The traditional ruler of Ganho called on the government to make treatment accessible to hard-to-reach communities surrounded by water, adding that with such challenge, Nigeria may not reach the 2030 target of eradicating HIV but with facilities in place might achieve 80 per cent.

‎He however called on government at all levels and especially the Lagos State government to increase the health budget to cater for children and mothers.

In 2016, the for Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) with the United State Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, (PEPFAR) among others launched Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free, a framework calling for a worldwide sprint towards “super fast-track targets” to end AIDS among children, adolescents and young women by 2020.‎

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UNAIDS targets relating to PMTCT include reducing the number of new HIV infections among children to fewer than 40,000 by 2018 and fewer than 20,000 by 2020 as there is also a commitment to ensure that 95 percent of pregnant women living with HIV are receiving lifelong HIV treatment by 2018.

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