CIHP launches baby shower to stop HIV transmission from mother to Child

Worried by the prevalence of HIV transmission from mother to Child in Nigeria, a Non-Governmental Organization, Centre for Integrated Health Programs, (CIHP) has launched baby shower in Kogi State.

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that the launch of the baby shower, was aimed at reaching out to pregnant Women within communities across Kogi State.

Speaking during the launching ceremony in Adankolo, Lokoja, the Kogi State Technical Lead for CIHP Mrs. Inyama Lawrencia asserted that baby shower is a congregational approach to reach out to pregnant women, either in the mosque or in the churches

"Before this meeting today, we have trained the congregational health advisers from the mosque and the churches, with the approval from their leaders.  Baby shower launch today is to create more awareness that CIHP, with funding support from Center for Disease Control is working to ensure that pregnant women in Kogi State knows their HIV status using the churches or the mosque.

"We discover that, some women  don't receive health service when they are pregnant. Some of them end up delivering at home, without going for antenatal care, or hospital delivery.

"It has become necessary that we create awareness so that those who don't know  their HIV status, or  have known their HIV status long ago can equally repeat it. The essence is to identify those pregnant Women that might be HIV positive and give them opportunity to go through Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services so that their  unborn children will not be infected.

This will help us achieve  HIV negative children at the end of the day. Our  goal is to have HIV free generation".

Lawrencia, however, frowned that despite the wide sensitization on HIV, there any some individuals who still have the mindset that the virus does not exist.

Continuing, she said "Despite the sensitization going on at different settings, some people still believe that HIV is witchcraft. Some will come out openly to say is not their portion, meanwhile they have been infected. So we are creating more awareness that it is a virus, and this virus can be transmitted from unprotected sex, coming in contact with infected person and can transmitted from mother to their unborn babies. Mother's  needs to know their HIV status and if they test positive, they will get the opportunity for treatment which is free"

Adding his voice,  the Associate Director, State Programs Operations, CIHP Pharm.  Bernard Akpa argued that another discovery in the State revealed that many pregnant Women don't like going to the hospital to deliver their babies due to lack of funds, and family believe 

Akpa admonished participants to carry the message down to the grassroot adding that, the training will avail them the opportunity to speak out when they are facing challenges and ensure that their babies are safe before and after delivery.

Giving an overview of baby shower, Alice Inaba, the Clinical Service Associate, Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV PMTCT Abuja office,seek the support of traditional rulers, and religious leaders for the program to achieve success in Kogi State 

"CIHP has effectively implemented the Baby Shower Strategy among other Accelerating Progress in Pediatrics and PMTCT program intervention. CHIP is committed to disseminate the Baby Shower toolkit to all its supported states and scale up Baby Shower activities as requested by Centre for Disease Control, (CDC). 

"Our organization is pushing course to formally inform and get the stakeholders to buy-in and support in conducting Baby Shower activities in Kogi state. CHIP will also  conduct community engagement for Baby Shower in a Muslim setting with a target of testing 100 pregnant women and  create awareness about BS and its benefits to pregnant women and unborn infants

In his goodwill message,  the State Coordinator, Aids Healthcare Foundation Dr Onyeyili Ikemefuna said the baby shower will ensure that every expectant mother has access to essential antenatal care and HIV testing services. 

Explaining further, he said "This baby shower approach is a brilliant example of how faith-based communities and healthcare providers can collaborate to save lives. By engaging women who may not attend formal healthcare facilities, we are not only increasing awareness but also ensuring early  detection and prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child.

" Together, we can make sure that every mother has the opportunity to access the care, education, and support she needs for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. Let us continue to work together, fostering strong partnerships that ensure no woman or child is left behind".

In her goodwill message, representative from the Kogi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, (KSPHCDA) Dr Hadiya Ismail Ahmad said they will continue to partner with  CIHP to enhance the health of pregnant women in Kogi State.

"We are always here to ensure that our pregnant Women deliver their babies safely. There is an ongoing renovations and services of our health facilities. We are trying to reduce the burden of our pregnant mothers. Primary and secondary facility are being improved. We will continue to present ourselves to the service for humanity".

 Dr Joseph Afangideh from the State Ministry of Health asserted that the government is committed to ensure that  pregnant Women  have access to good health facilities and service deliveries.

Highpoint of the event includes launch of baby shower tool kits, health education, syphilis test, high blood pressure check, malaria test and HIV test.

The programme which was done in partnership with  Center for disease control and prevention had in attendance traditional rulers, religious leaders, health practitioners among others. 

It was gathered that Kogi State started Baby Shower in November 2023.

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