UNICEF in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) has launched a project to improve healthcare in HIV Services for possible mother-to-child transmission cases.
The project dubbed Point of Care Test, is the use of a technology to significantly reduce turnaround times for HIV test results in babies, enhancing their chances of survival and reducing maternal anxiety.
Speaking on the project, Chief of Health & Nutrition -UNICEF Ghana, Emmanuel Dewiz, stated that the idea is innovative as it allows infected babies to be treated as soon as possible thereby increasing their chances of surviving.
“The Point of Care Test initiative focuses on babies because this is a long-neglected area. This program guarantees that no child is left behind and is available at medical institutions nationwide” he said.
Mr. Dewiz disclosed that the project comes under the Safety Net Programme where Teenage pregnancy historically resulted in teenage females dropping out of school, now have the chance to enrol again after giving birth. He claimed that by doing this, the girls have been able to regain their lives and have avoided becoming stigmatized.
He also calls for help to expand the program saying that UNICEF requires more funding to cover more areas because the benefits of the project are enormous. “This is something that we are doing in some districts of the country and we would like to do more. So, if we secure more funding, we will do more because this has a lot of impact on mothers, on children and on future adults,” he emphasised
Source : GBCghanaonline
