Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) in lake zone has has been reduced by over 98 percent

Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) in lake zone has has been reduced by over 98 percent, thanks to the efforts by a local organization.

Aerial Glaser Pediatric Aids Health Care Initiative (AGPAHI), effective, accessible, and scalable interventions within existing maternal and child health services, are the factors behind the life saving success story.

Children who were born free from HIVAIDS standing with their Parents.

Figures from different care and treatment clinics (CTC) in Shinyanga andGeita regions, indicate that less than two percent of infants were now infected of HIV virus by their mothers.

This means that 98 percent of the newborn babies are now born by HIV and Aids infected mothers, free from the virus.

Dr. Honoratha Rwezaura, CTC coordinator Bukombe District, Geita region, told the visiting journalists that in 2011/12 100 out of 109 new borns were born without HIV virus, meaning that only nine infants were infected.

"This could not be possible without AGAPHI in partnership with the government. They have  been providing various  facilities such as  laboratory equipments, trainings for health workers, among others,  that are factors behind the success story in PMCTC" Dr. Rwezaura told the scribes.

Statitics from Maganzo dispensary in Kishapu district in Shinyanga region, which also under AGPAHI indicate that the a total of 122 infants were born free from the HIV virus, out of 138 babies who were born by HIV positive mothers.

According to Maganzo Medical officer incharge, Sam Phillip the AGPAHI's support of care and treatment has been a life savier for new borns , who  otherwise could have been infected by their mothers.

AGPAHI Executive Director, Laurean Bwanakunu said that prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission  can be accomplished by effective, accessible, and scalable interventions within existing maternal and child health services.

“There’s no execuse for infants to be infected by their mothers at the moment where we have sufficient life prologing drugs for the people living with HIV and AIDS” Mr Bwanakunu explained.

It is understood the transmission of HIV from mothers to their infants contributes substantially to global morbidity and mortality for children under-5 years of age.

Approximately 1000 HIV-infected infants are born every day, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa, amounting to nearly 370,000 new pediatric infections annually UNAIDS.

Without treatment, over half of these children will die before the age of two.

AGPAHI is a local organization affiliated to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (AGPAF) focusing on pediatric AIDS and health care. The NGO  works with he ministry of Health and Social Welfare and other stakeholders to eliminate Pediatric AIDS.

The Organization supports efforts to increase access to and enrollment  in a comprehensive  package of sustainable , high quality and cost effective  care and treatment  services for HIV infected  families in the areas including Family Planning and PMCTC.

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HOSPITALI YA KOLANDOTO SHINYANGA YAKOSA MASHINE YA CD4

Hospitali ya Misheni ya Kolandoto katika Wilaya Shinyanga mjini  inakabiliwa na changamoto kubwa ya kuwahudumia watu waisho  na virusi vya ukimwi kufuatia kukosekana kwa mashine ya kuhesabu kinga za mwili (CD4) katika hospitali hiyo.

Mashine hiyo inaelezwa na wataalamu  wa tiba kujua kinga za mwili za mwathirika wa virusi vya ukimwi ili kujua iwapo anastahili kuanzishiwa dawa za kupunguza makali ya ugonjwa wa ukimwi ARV.

Akizungumza na waandishi wa habari waliotembelea hospitali hiyo juzi, Kaimu Mganga Mkuu  Dr.Phares Bwire alieleza kuwa ukosefu  wa mashine hiyo umekuwa ukisababaisha kuharibika kwa sampuli za damu ambazo zinalazimika kuplekwa  hospitali ya Mkoa wa Shinyanga kwa vipimo zaidi.

Alisema hospitali hiyo ilipata msaada wa mashine mbili za kupima damu (Screen Master na Full Blood Picture) kutoka Shirika la Afya linalojishughulisha na vita dhidi ya Ukimwi na Utoaji wa Huduma za Kujikinga, Matunzo na Tiba kwa wanaoishi na Virusi Vya Ukimwi (AGPAHI).

“Tunakabiliwa na changamoto katika utoaji wa huduma kwa  Waviu naomba wadau wengine wajitokeze kutusaidia kama walivyofanya  shirika la afya linalojishughilisha na mapambano ya ukimwi ,tiba na matunzo kwa  wagonjwa wa ukimwi AGPAHI… ukosefu wa mashine hii muhimu  ya kuhesabu CD4 unasababisha kuharibika kwa baadhi ya sampuli za damu.

Alisema kuwa wakati mwingine majibu ya CD4  yanachelewa kufika ambapo wanalazimika kusubiri kwa siku zisizopungua 14 hadi mwezi mmoja jambo linalowafanya wagonjwa kukata tamaa na wengine kukimbia matibabu

Kwa mujibu wa mganga huyo huduma za kupima na kutoa  dawa za ARV kwa   waathirika wa VVU zilianzishwa hospitalini hapo mwaka 2007  kwa ushirikiano na shirika la AGPAHI.

Mganga huyo alisema mbali na msaada wa mashine hizo, AGPAHI imewezesha mafunzo kwa watoa huduma wa kliniki za waathirika wa VVU, watoa hduma majumbani, vitendanishi, ukarabati wa majengo na dawa za ARV.

“Tangu tumeanza na shirika hili mpaka sasa ni zaidi ya sh milioni 200 za AGPAHI zimetumika kwenye shughuli mbalimbali hospitalini hapa hivyo tunaomba na mashirika mengine wajitokeze kutusaidia maana wagonjwa ni wengi,” alisema Dk. Phares.

Awali alibainisha kwamba hadi sasa waathirika zaidi ya 831 wanahudumiwa hospitalini hapo kwa dawa na ushauri huku akibainisha kwamba kati ya waathirika hao 70 ni watoto chini ya miaka 14 ambapo waathirika 114 wanatumia dawa za ARV wakati watoto wanaopewa dawa hizo ni 39.

Mwisho…

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EU, MPF TO EMPOWER MAASAI ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Nearly 35,000 Maasai in Monduli district, Arusha region will receive training on intellectual property rights in order to start protecting their traditional knowledge against exploitation.

Mounduli Disrtict Commisssioner  Jowika Kasunga (right side)Launching a special  project aimed at empowering the Maasai  communities  on  intelectual Properties  right

Maasai is one of the few remaining African ethnic group, rich in cultural creativity but due to ignorance, the community has never benefited from this cultural wealth.

European Union (EU) in partnership with Maasai Pastoralists Foundation (MPF) has embarked on a two years project to empower the Maasai community to unlock the potential of their cultural creativity.

The project officially launched last week at Esilalei Village in Monduli district, will cost over 601 million/- and would cover all 22 villages in the district, MPF officials said.

“Our objective is to empower Maasai community through traditional knowledge, cultural creativity and social investment,” MPF Director Emmanuel Ole Kokan said during the launching of the project.

According to Mr Kokan, they expect to be able to create investment that will provide cultural, social-economic opportunities and income diversity for Maasai sustainable livelihoods.

He further said that to start with the project would raise awareness on intellectual property rights to the Maasai community.

 “The project would also enable the Maasai community to collect all their cultural arts and historical information, in the process so that they can protect them in future” MPF boss explained.

EU head of delegation to Tanzania, Mr Filiberto Sebregondi said that the cultural creativity is a wealth if well developed could transform the lives of many in Tanzania.

According to the envoy the cultural creativity is also one of the most important sectors for entrepreneurship and creation of new companies.

Mr Sebregondi noted that in Tanzania, creative and cultural industries would only flourish if the right drivers are in place and are enabled to reach out to wider markets.

Monduli District commissioner, Jowika Kassunga commended the MPF for coming up with the right project at the right time, vowing to provide all necessary support for the project to be successful.

“I know some few people have been benefiting from the Maasai cultural creativity, but with the introduction of this project, I believe the Maasai people would start reaping from their own traditional innovation” Mr Kasunga said during the official opening of the project.

MPF board chairperson Lois Francis Pulei, said the project would involve the exchange programme to neighboring Kenya in order for Tanzanian Maasai to learn how they can turn their cultural creativity into a serious business.

“I’m a Tanzanian Maasai who married to A Kenyan husband, I want to make sure that my fellow benefit from your Kenyan counterpart who have gone far in terms of cultural creativity business” Ms Pulei explained.

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