Last week, the PMTCT (prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV) module of ChildCount+ (CC+) was launched in Ghana. This marks the second MVP site to implement the PMTCT software, with the first site being the Sauri Cluster in Western Kenya (see PMTCT in Kenya for a thorough explanation of the PMTCT module).
We visited the CHEWs (Community Health Extension Workers) at each of their 6 respective health centers in the Bonsaaso cluster to introduce the PMTCT module and to distribute phones. As the CHEWs are already familiar with sending in SMS messages to the server as part of their usual tasks related to CC+, the addition of the PMTCT module only required a short training. This, in fact, is one of the advantages of the software: the ability to add on specific modules, defined by the needs of the area, with very little additional training outside of the initial CC+ introduction.
The ability to track and promptly attend to children who need nutritional or medical interventions is a main strength of the CC+ program. With the PMTCT module now implemented in two MVP sites, we will be able to track pregnant mothers and their children, specifically, to ensure that HIV+ mothers are receiving their medications on time to prevent the transmission of HIV to their babies at birth.
In the months to come, we hope to see defaulters (mothers who don’t make their clinic appointments), followed up with by the CHEWs more easily. Beyond that, we hope to see zero children born with HIV. A cast of many worked very hard to bring the PMTCT module to Ghana, and the continuing work of the CHEWs, the team in Ghana in conjunction with the teams at the Earth Institute at Columbia University and the Millennium Villages Project, will achieve the virtual elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV. Expect updates on PMTCT, along with news from our other active CC+ sites.
Recent Comments