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New Project Opportunities

For information regarding participation in new projects, please contact projects@rotaryaidsproject.org for budget and additional information.

Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV

Highly Effective Treatment Available for PMTCT

Studies show that using antiretroviral drugs reduces the transmission of HIV from infected mothers to their infants.

Aggressive prenatal HIV testing, coupled with combination antiretroviral therapy and Cesarean section has reduced HIV transmission to less than 1% in the U.S. and Europe.

Challenges in Developing Countries

In spite of the fact that the effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs was reported over 10 years ago, there are still many challenges in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in developing countries:

  • inadequate health care resources

  • inadequate numbers of trained health care workers

  • political and bureaucratic obstacles

  • continued discrimination and stigmatization of HIV infected women

  • prohibitive cost of treatment

A recent survey suggested less than 5% of pregnant women in developing countries receive HIV prevention counseling

Less than 10% of HIV infected pregnant women receive any antiretroviral drug to prevent infection of their infants

Cost Effective Treatment Now Available

Both scientific and economic studies demonstrate that using antiretroviral drugs is one of the most cost effective means for preventing mother to child transmission of HIV. Prenatal HIV testing, coupled with voluntary counseling and testing for all women, could result in reduced HIV infection in all populations saving millions of lives each year.

Facts

PREVENTION of MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV (PMTCT)

  • Every year, over 2 million HIV infected pregnant women give birth to 700,000 HIV infected infants.
  • With access to treatment, fewer than 100 infants are born with HIV infection each year in the US.
  • In contrast, 1,800 infants become infected each day in developing countries.
  • A single dose of the drug Nevirapine, given to the mother and infant, could prevent 300,000 infant infections each year.
  • In 10 years, the lives of 3 million children could be saved.
  • Nevirapine is effective even when breastfeeding is continued for up to 18 months.
  • A single dose of Nevirapine costs only 85 cents.

For more information 

Check out these web sites for more information about PMTCT:

Centers for Disease Control

World Health Organization

UNICEF

What can you do to help? 

  • Develop a program about PMTCT for a Rotary meeting
  • Develop a project to support PMTCT
  • Provide information and education about PMTCT

If you wish to partner with RAP in the development of a project, please contact us for additional information.

Prevention of HIV/AIDS by Education and Skill 

Background

Women and children from Bishnumati area in Kathmandu are vulnerable to exploitation by drug and female prostitution traffickers. The Maoist insurgency has forced the migration from remote areas of Nepal into urban slums. There is a high incidence of illiteracy and poverty among these conflict-affected individuals and many resort to commercial sex work to survive. This population has a high incidence of HIV infection and those who are as yet uninfected are at high risk for acquisition and transmission of HIV.

Objectives

  • Provide education about HIV/AIDS, recreational drug use, trafficking in sex trade.  
  • Develop small scale income generating farming activities for small domestic livestock and various aspects of sewing skills.
  • Motivate participants to be self-employed.
  • Motivate commercial sex workers to get out of the trade by providing them with alternative skills and improving their social status.
  • Prevent thousands of people from getting or causing HIV/AIDS per year.

Activities

  • Selected women will get micro-credit for the purpose of the farming goats, chickens, and pigs. Animals of high breeds will be provided. The women will be managed to foster exchange of offspring of animals to other members of the community who were skipped during first distribution. This policy is similar to that used by Heifer International. Goats will be provided to 10 women, pigs to 5 women, and 25 chickens will be provided to each of 5 women.
  • Skill training, such as sewing and cutting, will be provided to 80 women, in groups 20, with the goal of self-employment and involvement in income generating programs. The skill training will continue for 1 year in 3-month intervals.

Target Groups

  • Impoverished HIV+ women living in the rural area of Bishnumati, Kathmandu. Participants will be of both low economic status and the untouchable (Dalit) caste
  • There are 150 families, usually with 5-7 children per family.
  • Initially 80 women will receive sewing and cutting training. Almost 500 total family members of approximately 80 families will benefit. Approximately 20 conflict-affected and Dalit families will have direct employment in animal. Because of micro-credit and animal offspring given to other families, at least 150 families will benefit

Self-Sustaining HIV/AIDS Prevention and Counseling Clinic

Background

Nepal is in the stage of concentrated epidemic of HIV infection. HIV infection is seen among intravenous drug users, women returning to Nepal from Indian brothels, male migrant workers returning from India and their wives, who are frequently seen in antenatal clinics Currently 60,000 - 100,000 people, typically between the ages of 19 and 39 years, are living with HIV/AIDS in Kathmandu. Many of them are concentrated in the outskirts of Kathmandu. Some are living in Bishnumati and adjoining area. Such people are depressed, with low self esteem, and do not take much interest with their lives. Many of the children of such parents are facing psychosocial problems in identifying their problems and working towards realistic solutions. Because of extremely poor economic conditions many have started working in the sex trade. A local clinic program is needed to provide education on HIV/AIDS, medical testing and counseling to all these groups as an outreach activity.

Objectives

  • Create basic outreach counseling services for HIV+ and other highly vulnerable people in the Bishnumati area.
  • Stimulate for responsible behavior in preventing transmission of HIV/ AIDS.
  • Improve self-esteem.
  • Encourage networking with other NGOs
  • Provide information on their health care
  • Support the education of children who are with their mothers at their residential facility.

 Activities

  • Counseling, on an individual basis and in groups Pre and post HIV diagnosis counseling.
  • Simple medical testing, plus testing referrals to Government testing/treatment facility.
  • Referrals for antiviral treatment of HIV positive individuals.
  • Referrals to maternity hospital for pregnant women.
  • Free supply of Nevirapine to mothers and newborns to prevent maternal-fetal transmission.
  • Provide information on AIDS, STD’s, drug abuse, and needles.
  • Free distribution of condoms.
  • Treatment of other basic medical problems of the people living with HIV/AIDS and their children.

Target Groups

  • Individuals diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.
  • Individuals who are vulnerable to HIV infection.
  • Individuals who are HIV positive and likely to transmit infection to others.
  • 500 clients/patients per month will be helped.
  • Thousands of people per year will be prevented from getting or causing HIV/AIDS

If you wish to partner with RAP in the development of one or both of these projects please click here for a budget and additional information.

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