Zimbabwe: Unicef Ropes in Male Champions to Change HIV Perceptions. 20/3/10
While over 93% of pregnant mothers attend ante-natal clinics, less than half of those requiring PMTCT services access them.
By Bertha Shoko
20 March 2010
Mberengwa — Lack of fathers' involvement in the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV programme has for many years been cited as one of the major challenges hindering its success. PMTCT aims to reduce the chances of an HIV-positive mother passing the virus to her unborn child.
But in Zimbabwe there has been a slow response to the intervention by women who fear being rejected by their husbands when they test HIV positive.
While over 93% of pregnant mothers attend ante-natal clinics, less than half of those requiring PMTCT services access them. This presents an enormous missed opportunity for HIV prevention in children.
However, a new innovative programme known as the Male Champions promises to bridge this critical social gap.
Through Betseranai Home Based Care (HBC) at Musume Mission in Mberengwa more men are being persuaded to support their wives in the PMTCT programme.
By using men who are role models in their community to counsel their colleagues on the benefits of knowing their HIV status, the Male Champions programme is slowly changing mindsets in rural Mberengwa
Otillia and her husband Nhamoinesu Gumbo (39) are one couple of the many success stories of the Male Champions programme, which is supported by the United Nations Children's Fund.
Otillia (36) was devastated when she tested HIV-positive 18 months ago during her third pregnancy.
"My biggest fear was that I would have one of those sickly looking children who would end up dying," Otillia told journalists during a recent Unicef media tour of Mberengwa.
"I had heard of so many women being blamed for HIV in the home and sent packing so I really feared for the worst."
It took the counselling and assurances of caregiver Juliet Nkomo of Betseranai HBC who is also HIV-positive to ease Otillia's mind.
"When I told Mai Nkomo about the fears she taught me how it was very possible for me to have an HIV-negative baby while I was HIV-positive," said Otillia.
After sometime, Otillia eventually mustered the courage to break the news to her husband, who accepted the news but was himself not willing to get tested.
In the end it was Sikhulile Mhere, a member of the Betseranai Male Champions programme who managed to convince Nhamoinesu to get tested.
Five months ago the couple was blessed with a baby girl and they are keeping their fingers crossed that when she gets tested at six months she would be found to be free of the virus.
Unicef spokesperson said they use of male role models was crucial if the PMTCT programme was to succeed.
"The success of any PMTCT programme is hinged on the acknowledgement of a myriad of social and cultural factors that influence decisions to take up PMTCT services," said Singizi.
"This initiative pays attention to these factors at community level.
"Chief among these is the involvement of men."
She said it was crucial for men to be involved if the programme was to succeed because men made most crucial decisions on how the child is raised.