One of such things is seeing a little child born with HIV, especially when the mother already knew her status, had access to treatment and could have taken steps to prevent transmitting the virus to her baby.
As a parent, I believe one of our greatest responsibilities is to protect our children, especially when it comes to their health. Children depend on us to make decisions that will give them the best possible chance at life. They cannot speak for themselves or make medical decisions, so we have to do everything within our power to protect them.
I recently saw a young woman at the clinic with her little child. The child could not have been more than six years old, and honestly, seeing them made me feel so sad.
From what I heard, the woman already knew she was HIV positive before she became pregnant, but she did not take her diagnosis seriously. She eventually gave birth, and it was only after the child started falling sick that the family discovered the child was also HIV positive.
According to what was said, the mother later explained that someone had told her about her status, but she did not believe the diagnosis and did not bother to follow up or take the necessary steps.
She also reportedly said that the hospital where she delivered did not test the baby. I do not know all the circumstances surrounding what happened, so I cannot say for certain why the necessary testing was not done or whether the facility was registered with the government.
But one thing that kept bothering me was this: could things have turned out differently if the mother had received proper counselling, accepted her diagnosis and accessed appropriate treatment throughout pregnancy and delivery?
The thought alone is painful.
Please, I know there are people who will say we should not blame the mother, and I agree that we should be careful about judging people when we do not know their full story. Some people struggle to accept an HIV diagnosis because of fear, stigma, misinformation or the emotional shock that comes with it. Others may face challenges accessing treatment or staying on their medication.
These are real issues, and people dealing with them deserve support, not humiliation.
However, I also believe we must be honest about the importance of taking HIV treatment seriously, especially during pregnancy.
With proper medical care, antiretroviral treatment and the recommended interventions during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, the risk of transmitting HIV from mother to child can be reduced to very low levels.
Today, many women living with HIV give birth to HIV negative children. It is possible to be HIV positive, receive appropriate treatment and have a healthy baby who does not acquire the virus.
That is why seeing a case like this is particularly heartbreaking to me. There are now effective ways to prevent most mother‑to‑child HIV transmission, yet some children still acquire the virus when opportunities for prevention are missed.
And what makes it even more painful is that the child had no say in any of it.
The child did not choose the circumstances of their birth. The child did not choose whether the mother accepted her diagnosis or took her medication. Yet the child is the one who may now have to deal with the consequences.
Thankfully, HIV treatment is available, and children living with HIV can grow up, attend school, build relationships, pursue their dreams and live long, fulfilling lives when they receive appropriate care and take their medication as prescribed.
I sincerely hope this little child gets all the support and medical care needed to thrive but I cannot help thinking about how much better it would have been if the infection had been prevented in the first place.
And please, let nobody misunderstand me. I am not saying that every child born with HIV acquired it because their mother was careless. Mother‑to‑child transmission can still occur in some circumstances despite appropriate care, and there are cases where a woman’s HIV status is unknown or where she faces barriers to treatment. Every situation deserves to be assessed individually.
My concern is specifically about situations where a person knows their status, has access to appropriate care but, for whatever reason, does not follow up or take the recommended treatment. In such situations, we need to do more to educate, counsel and support people before another child is affected.
Healthcare facilities also have a responsibility to provide appropriate antenatal care, offer HIV testing, ensure that exposed babies receive the recommended testing and follow‑up, and link mothers and children to treatment when necessary.
No pregnant woman should be left without the information and support she needs to protect her baby.
To every woman living with HIV who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant, please do not allow fear or stigma to stop you from seeking medical care. Speak to your healthcare provider, take your medication as prescribed and attend your appointments. If you are struggling to accept your diagnosis or adhere to treatment, please ask for help rather than suffering in silence.
And to healthcare workers, please remember that how you speak to a newly diagnosed woman can make a difference. She needs accurate information, compassion and reassurance that she can still have a healthy family.
We may not be able to change every circumstance, but we can do more to prevent children from acquiring HIV when effective prevention measures are available.
I am sharing this because I want more awareness, more compassion and more responsibility, not because I want anyone to be insulted or shamed.
Every child deserves the opportunity to start life as healthy as possible. Every mother deserves the support to protect her child. And every person living with HIV deserves access to treatment, accurate information and a life free from stigma.
May we continue to educate ourselves, support one another and do everything possible to protect the next generation.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Disclaimer: Comments And Opinions On Any Part Of This Website Are Opinions Of The Blog Commenters Or Anonymous Persons And They Do Not Represent The Opinion Of StellaDimokoKorkus.com
Pictures and culled stories posted on this site are given credit and if a story is yours but credited to the wrong source,Please contact Stelladimokokorkus.com and corrections will be made..
If you have a complaint or a story,Please Contact StellaDimokoKorkus.com Via
Sdimokokorkus@gmail.com
Mobile Phone +4915210724141