The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has organised a training programme for mentor mothers on bridging the gaps in the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS.
Addressing the participants on Tuesday in Kabba, Kogi State, Mrs Christie Awunor, the AHF State Nursing Coordinator for Abuja, Kogi and Nasarrawa, said the training was organised by AHF to mark the International Women’s Day 2022, with the theme: “Break The Bias”.
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Mrs Awunor noted that the training was organised to educate the mentor mothers more on PMTCT in order to support the AHF program on HIV/AIDS prevention and advocacy in the state.
She said mentor mothers are HIV-positive women who serve as counsellors for PMTCT clients to provide guidance and support in keeping appointments and promoting antiretroviral adherence and retention-in-care.
According to her, the program will enable the mentor mothers to work in collaboration with health workers and other peer educators to encourage, educate and empower HIV-positive pregnant women and new mothers in the communities.
Mrs Awunor, therefore, encouraged the women to be brave and break harmful biases in their lives and bring about positive change in their communities and in the lives of their friends and families.
In her remarks, the Kogi State Coordinator of AHF, Dr Onyeyili Ikemefuna, said AHF being gender-sensitive was using the IWD to reflect on the sacrifice, celebrating and highlighting the achievements of strong and successful women globally.
Dr Ikemufuna added that the AHF had been standing strong with women living with HIV in order to reduce the scourge, and had effectively prevented mother-to-child transmission in the State.
A participant, Remilekun Michael, thanked AHF for the gesture, assuring that they will go back to re-enact the training at their various communities.
