| Focusing on Mothers: The Global Stage |
|
Throughout this year, conversations have centered on the undeniable power of women as the key component for making the world a stronger, healthier place. Leaders from almost every continent have vocalized their support for programs that focus on the prevention-of-mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and overall maternal health. Women are increasingly being recognized as vital components in the global fight in this pandemic. Maternal mortality is defined as mothers who die in childbirth, or within six weeks of delivering. Factors that increase the chances of maternal mortality are limited access to well-equipped clinics, transport to get to these clinics, and most importantly, the inadequate number of healthcare workers to address the intricate needs of each client. Reaching these women is now more than ever seen as the key to addressing the global health crisis.
Moreover, a pivotal medical journal, The Lancet, recently published a crucial series of reports called “Saving Mothers” which site some undeniable statistics, solidifying the tragic link between HIV and maternal mortality: • The ‘Saving Mothers’ report noted that the institutional maternal mortality rate of women who were HIV infected was almost ten times that of HIV-negative women. Strong Women, Strong VoicesSarah Brown, wife of UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown, has been a strong proponent of maternal health. As Global Patron of the White Ribbon Alliance, an international coalition that promotes increased public awareness of the need to make pregnancy and childbirth safe for all women and newborns, Mrs. Brown has powerfully advocated and brought attention to maternal mortality, which is one of the eight UN Millennium Development Goals. From her column in the UK publication, The Guardian, Mrs. Brown writes “...so many major healthcare problems in the developing world can only be tackled by first addressing maternal health. Pregnant women who are HIV-positive need access to antenatal care and a skilled delivery to prevent the transmission of the virus to the next generation.” U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on her recent trip through Africa highlighted the fact that MTCT is preventable and should remain a focus for all countries. “In every community, we must help women gain access to prevention and treatment to ensure that they can live longer, healthier lives, raise healthy children and be a force for progress and change in their communities. The US Government sees targeting PMTCT as a key element of a broader, more effective approach to global health.”
The Window into a Beatable IssueA woman’s pregnancy creates inroads into reaching one of the key elements to enable targeted and peripheral family health: the woman herself. Often times, these very women do not realize that they need to be tested, treated, educated and supported - all components of their basic human right to appropriate medical care. These ideals form the foundation of mothers2mothers.Dr Mitch Besser, founder of m2m, often speaks of PMTCT programs’ early focus being targeted towards the “C” in PMTCT--- the child. Treatment aims have now shifted, when it was realized that by moving the target point to the “M” -- the mother - a residual cascade of effectiveness and benefits were seen overall. “The pivotal entry in creating an HIV-free generation is the mother. By ensuring her health and empowerment, we found we could directly support the development of a healthy mother, who would ensure the health of her child and her family.” It has also been reported in The Times of South Africa, that South African Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi is expected to launch a plan to address mother-to-child HIV transmission in an effort to reduce infant mortality in the country. "This is one of the most urgent things I want to (deal with) as the new minister," Motsoaledi said. According to Motsoaledi, a child dies every eight minutes in South Africa, and about 40% of child deaths are related to HIV/AIDS. Thinking Women’s Rights, Rethinking Health Care RightsA systemic overhaul is needed in developing countries, and though this process is a seemingly overwhelming task, it is not entirely insurmountable or hopeless. PMTCT-focused programs, like mothers2mothers, provide a demonstrable solution for Health Ministries and set an example to the rest of the world. By de-stigmatizing HIV/AIDS and creating economic opportunities for women (in the form of the unique Mentor Mother role), a new cadre of healthcare workers is created, a vital step in this global response. The rehabilitation of the healthcare system would ensure that women, mothers, and HIV-positive people bring vulnerable women back in to the treatment cascade in a meaningful and powerful way. This benefits women, sisters, husbands, brothers, children, villages, communities, society, business and government - Everyone!Women hold the key, and it’s the responsibility of our leaders, our communities and us to make sure they receive powerful encouragement and access to services that ensure their civil and human rights. By lifting everyone up to an equal pedestal, society loses nothing and gains everything, as partners, as people and as an evolving world, where we care for each other and allow others their full potential no matter their sex or HIV status. When you reach a mother, you can reach the world. >> |
