Born Free of HIV in West Africa

Providing access to HIV treatment and care can prevent newborns from contracting HIV from their HIV+ mothers. This treatment would occur prior to the birth of the child, and during the breastfeeding period. When mothers are given this access to healthcare, HIV transmission to the newborn can be completely prevented.  

When an expecting mother is living with HIV, the chance of transmission to her unborn child is 90% during their birth. In the other 10% of cases, the child would contract HIV when they are being breastfed. However, with access to HIV treatment prior to their birth, newborns are able to be born HIV free 100% of the time. 

GAIA Vaccine Foundation fosters the ongoing program, “Born Free of HIV in West Africa”, which has provided access to HIV testing to 15,439 women between the years of 2005-2015. This preventative measure has stopped the transmission of HIV from pregnant mothers to their newborns in 100% of cases. The “Born Free of HIV in West Africa” program has changed the lives of thousands of Malian women by preventing pregnant mothers from transmitting an autoimmune disease to their children. 

By donating $25, you would be supporting HIV testing for five women in the clinic. For only $50, you would be providing a mother with all of her necessary laboratory tests during her pre-natal period. This includes an ultrasound. By donating $200, you would be supporting an outreach worker’s salary for a month. These outreach workers go to the mothers’ homes and encourage the mother to continue to practice HIV prevention post childbirth, which would reduce the risk of transmission to her newborn. All donations are greatly appreciated, and we thank you for your ongoing support of GAIA Vaccine Foundation and our program “Born Free of HIV in West Africa”.