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Groote Schuur has mother of all HIV projects
Wellington Ndude. The Star, July 15 2002. Reprinted courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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A project started at Groote Schuur Hospital in which HIV-positive mothers counsel pregnant women about AIDS could spread to clinics in other countries.
This was the message brought back from the 14th International AIDS Conference, which took place in Barcelona, Spain, last week.
Dr Mitchell Besser and several women who take part in Groote Schuur's Mothers-to-mothers-to-be (M2M2B) project were given the opportunity to explain their experiences to delegates at the conference.
Besser said African and other Third World countries were impressed with how the Cape Town hospital's team had articulated its programme.
"It was the only programme (of its kind) which received a positive sentiment. They were the only mothers who were able to talk about their HIV/AIDS experiences openly," said Besser.
He said the mothers had learnt that "there is a universal need for people to appreciate that being HIV-positive does not mean you are going to die".
Besser said their mission in Barcelona had been to inform the world about the kind of services that mother mentors in Groote Schuur's M2M2B provided for pregnant women.
The women who went through pregnancy tests were advised to join the mentorship care of mothers who had already gone through the same experiences.
The mentors described their programme as essential. "Having HIV is difficult enough. Being pregnant, too, could be unbearably stressful," they agreed.
Besser said of the Barcelona trip: "They were the bravest people in the world to be able to stand up and describe their HIV/AIDS experiences. They can contribute to the well-being of others similarly affected."
But the conference's aim was also to share information and educate people about the treatment that should be given to those living with the virus, he said.
Musa Makhunga, who accompanied the group to Barcelona, said the project was well received. "I was very impressed with how countries like Brazil and Thailand have responded to the project," he said.
He said the message they had brought back from the conference was to have enough knowledge and commitment to take action against the disease. |
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