Stop the Spread of HIV from Mothers to Babies

Olive is a 31-year-old beautiful lady who joined Alive Medical Services HIV clinic in 2010. When she was in high school, she did all she could to abstain from sex in order to avoid getting infected with HIV. Unfortunately, in 2002, while in High school, Olive was raped! She was so devastated and feared she may have contracted HIV during this first sexual encounter but feared to test.
Olive had her first baby but did not test for HIV and exclusively breastfed her baby just like any other excited first-time mother. Little did she know that she was infecting the baby through breast milk.
“I noticed that my baby was not growing as well as other normal babies his age and yet he had made one year already.” Sad Olive explains.
Olive’s baby got so ill that he was admitted in the Intensive Care Unit and several tests were done including HIV test. Her baby turned out positive for HIV, and the health workers suggested that she should also get tested for HIV.
“I was somewhat not shocked at all, I just had to be strong for the sake of my son. I was counselled and referred to Alive Medical Services for better comprehensive care. When we came to Alive Medical Services with my son, I was counselled again, I was encouraged that I was greater than HIV, the fact that the counsellor told me to forgive whoever infected me to love my life". Narrates Olive.
Olive encourages regular testing especially the expectant mothers, girls who have been raped or defiled, they should always feel free to consult, ask and think about their health.
Thanks to the Alive Medical Services EMTCT program and health team, Olive is now a new mother of a healthy baby girl, and she is excited that she is breastfeeding under the guidance of the health workers, and she is devoted entirely to the treatment and management of HIV. Olive takes her daily medication one pill, once a day, and on time. And it’s working. She is virally undetectable with a healthy HIV-negative partner. Olive eats well and she’s in great health.