Health Care for 500 HIV+ Children in Zambia

The Power of Love team would like to wish you a happy holiday season and express thanks for your caring, encouragement, and support throughout the year. 2016 was an extraordinary year for families in our pediatric HIV care program. Here are some key achievements:

• Added 100 HIV+ children bringing the total number of children in our care to 350. At the time of enrollment, the new children were quite sick – many were malnourished and their immune system was weak (measured by CD4 counts). Our Nurse and community health workers created a customized health plan for each child, and worked diligently to stabilize their health. Today, most children have improved in health as measured by an increase in weight, and higher CD4 counts.
• Zero new HIV infections: In 2016, (as in the past six years) 100% of children born to HIV+ moms were HIV free even though they have HIV+ siblings.
• More than 240 family members came forward for voluntary counseling and testing for HIV. This is critical in the prevention and spread of HIV.
• All 350 families in our program are more knowledgeable about HIV prevention and care, so they can take better care of their children and other sick family members.

These outcomes have led to less discrimination, reduced stigma, and a more self-reliant and stronger community. A big thank you! We could not have achieved any of this without your support. 

Plans for 2017: We are raising funds to add 100 HIV+ children bringing the total number of children in our care to 450. All children will receive food, medicines and a package of life saving health care services that include weekly health visits, psychosocial counseling, education in prevention of HIV, and training and monitoring in adherence to ARV medication. In addition, family members will receive training in HIV care and prevention so that the child is under the care of a trained caregiver 24/7.

Our holiday treat for you: Please take a moment to enjoy this short video, that showcases two little girls learning to dance with older kids. We are sure this video will brighten your day.

Sending you a giant wave of love and best wishes for a joyful holiday season.

Links:

• About our Pediatric HIV care Program
• What makes our program unique?
• Stories of two children who are role models

The families in our pediatric HIV care program truly appreciate your continued support and dedication to provide health care services to orphans and vulnerable HIV+ children in Zambia. The goal of this program is to strengthen the community by equipping families with tools to take care of their HIV+ children. Family members of children are provided with training in caring for an HIV+ child, and education in HIV prevention. This leads to an improvement in the health of the children, prevention of HIV, and reduction in stigma associated with HIV.

Over the last year, our program has taken big strides forward. We would like to share these exciting developments with you.

Big Strides Taken in the Past 12 months:

1. Addition of 100 Children: We were able to add 100 children in 2016 bringing the total number of HIV+ children in our care to 350. At this time, the new children are undergoing a complete health exam and health care professionals are designing a health plan for each child for the next 6-12 months. 
2. We continue to achieve our goal of zero new HIV infections: In the last five years 100% of children born to HIV+ moms were HIV free. Pregnant women are enrolled in our PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV) program so that we can maximize the chances of the new born child being HIV free.   
3. Training Provided to Family members: Over the last two years 165 family members have been provided training in HIV prevention and care. This ensures that family members can identify and get treatment for infections in a timely manner to prevent escalation of the infection that can compromise a child’s health. Also, family members trained in HIV prevention and care share their knowledge with others in the community. This leads to improved knowledge, and better health for the entire community making it stronger.  
4. HIV Prevention: As a result of better knowledge about HIV, more than 240 family members have come forward for testing for HIV. This is critical for prevention and spread of HIV.
5. Children Graduated: Over the last two years, 34 children turned 18 years of age and were graduated from the program. Some of these children come back as volunteers and are wonderful role models for younger children.
6. Improvement in health: New children added to the program over the last 12 months are improving in health (measured by an increase in weight) and their immune system has become stronger (measured by an increase in CD4 count). Prior to enrollment most children complain of diarrhea, skin rashes, cough, malnourishment, and TB. However, once they have been on the program for 4-5 months, their health improves and they start attending school regularly HIV+ children in Zambia healthy and in school.  

   We could not have achieved any of this without your support. Thanks again for your dedication to keep orphans and vulnerable HIV+ children in Zambia healthy and in school.  

Links:

• About our Pediatric HIV care Program
• About Training Provided to Family members of children