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HIVSA reaches out to the gogos

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When Sibongile Molefe found out she was HIV+, her gogo (granny) was the first person she told. She was also the first person who accepted her regardless of her status. Working for HIVSA has allowed Sibongile to show the same love and support to others affected by HIV and Aids. An HIVSA educator specialising in PMTCT (Prevention mother to child transmission), Sibongile is part of the Orange Babies project which focuses on pregnant women with HIV and their babies. Trying to minimise and eliminate HIV in infants. Her mission is to educate communities and raise awareness about the issues and new developments around HIV. In her current workshops she talks to gogos because she knows how important their role is in the family unit. I join one of the workshops with Molefe at the Pimville community centre. Equipped with a new gym, the gogos attending the talk like to work-out first. Forming part of the centre’s health initiative, I am amazed and a little amused to watch the grannies stretching and jumping. They are fit and flexible, some more than the youngsters. Touching their toes and getting annoyed when the class ends. Every week there are different talks; health, social issues, money management and so on, all organised by the City of Joburg. The gogos enjoy the workshops and the exercise, always learning something new. Initially they are confused as Molefe starts talking about breastfeeding and HIV, I mean “us grannies are not having babies and having sex?” But soon it all makes sense and they understand the importance of them understanding HIV better. Molefe says: “It gives me back the person that I first disclosed to. It was my grandmother. She is the one who accepted me…we cried together after I told her.” “The grannies are very important. What if I die when I was diagnosed. Who is going to look after my child? It is going to be my mother. That means it’s their granny. We can say whatever but they are important. I get upset when I see people playing with their grannies. There are people out there who want to have grannies but they don’t have them. If you facing a problem and if you don’t have a mother you can always tell your granny.” Molefe’s main work with grannies is to make them understand what PMTCT is doing in clinics so they can support moms and their daughters and their granddaughters through the process. Once baby is delivered, Molefe’s work becomes even more important in educating mom’s and grannies on how best to keep baby HIV negative because the risk now becomes a feeding one. If a positive mom is going to breastfeed she needs to know how to do so safely. This is where Molefe explains that mom or baby needs to be on ARVs; and they have to breastfeed exclusively. HIVSA supports this breastfeeding initiative as long as all the facts around are known.

What if I die when I was diagnosed. Who is going to look after my child? It is going to be my mother. That means it’s their granny

Until recently, the WHO were weary to advise HIV-positive mothers to breastfeed but research proves that exclusive breastfeeding and the use of antiretroviral treatment can significantly reduce the risk of transmitting HIV to babies.A newbreastfeeding policywas passed inSouth Africain April this year.All mothers are being encouraged to exclusively breastfeed for the first six months. Instead of formula, HIV-positive mothers and their infants will receive antiretroviral drugs that will dramatically reduce the chances of transmission, while ensuring that babies benefit from the goodness of breast milk. HIVSA programme director Jean Armstrongaccepts that breastfeeding is good and they want to promote it, but theyare concerned about the risk when you are HIV-positive for that baby. “Moms are now being told to exclusively breastfeed. They’ve been given very little information on what needs to happen to make that safe. It’s safe when you’ve got the right treatment and when you doing so exclusively. But if you’re mixed feeding we believe the risk of transmission is increased.” Armstrong says: “HIV is manageable and we want granny to open up and be a catalyst for people to talk about HIV. The younger generation don’t think they can tell their grannies such things. We are trying to break down the barriers and by providing the correct information about what it is goes a long way in giving people the tools to have these conversations.” Reflecting on her own HIV status, Molefe says when you first find out you want to ignore it but if she could advise anyone who is finding out they are positive, she says they must go to the clinic and get support. “Take your treatment and you can live a good life. Look at me, I’ve been on treatment for many years now and I am fine. I am doing well.”

– By Tanja Bencun

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