PMTCT Skeptics Become PMTCT Believers

Four mothers bring their young children for check-ups at Centre Mère-Enfant Barumbu, a high-volume facility in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. Although all of the mothers are living with HIV, their children have tested negative for the virus—thanks to prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services.

As the mothers wait under the shade of a tree, they chat. All express relief at the good health of their children. At the beginning of their enrollment in the PMTCT program, none of them believed that they could give birth to HIV-free infants or that their children could be healthy.

Nadine Yalala remembers when she was diagnosed with HIV during an antenatal care visit: “I considered that moment as the end of my existence in this world. I went through a serious depression and lost all hope for life on this earth. So I decided to get an abortion to avoid being a mother of a HIV-infected infant who is condemned to die a few months after delivery.

“Fortunately, a nurse trained by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), provided me with strong psychological support,” Nadine continues.

“Being infected with HIV is not a death sentence anymore,” says Genevieve Ampame, the PMTCT nurse at the health center. “Keep attending antenatal care services, during which you will receive advice, care, and treatment so that you can remain safe and give birth to an HIV-free infant. Even after delivery, if you adhere to the treatment and observe what health care providers tell you—and also what your peers tell you during support group meetings—you will keep healthy.”

“The words of encouragement empowered me significantly,” says Nadine. “I followed the treatment, and attended all of my antenatal care visits at the Centre Mère-Enfant Barumbu, where I was proud to deliver an HIV-free baby girl named Emmanuelle.

“When Emmanuelle was 18 months old, I took her back to the facility for her last testing as an HIV-exposed child, and the result was negative,” Nadine reports with pride. “This filled me with joy—and erased the doubt I still had about the benefit of PMTCT programs.

“My experience is almost the same Nadine’s,” says Ruth Kahemba. “Despite the embarrassment of living with HIV, I am very happy to realize that I have given birth to a HIV-free infant [Belfjora, now 7 months old]. I will do all my best to make sure that she stays safe.”

Helene Lukumbu says that she, too, was a skeptic about PMTCT. “Despite the education, care, and treatment I received during pregnancy, I kept doubting of the possibility of delivering an HIV-free baby,” she says. “But at the end of the PMTCT period, I was very happy when I was informed that my son [ Baraka, now 2 years old], is free of HIV. Now I am aware of that, and strongly involved in empowering my peers on the benefit from adhering in PMTCT program.

“Because of the HIV-free status of my beloved son, Baraka, I glorified God, thanked health care providers of this facility and EGPAF for technical support and PMTCT services—as well CDC and PEPFAR for funding,” beams Helene.

“I am very happy that my daughter Alvine is free of HIV thanks to the PMTCT program,” adds Marie Ntumba. “Alvine is the testimony or the proof of what I am saying. Now, I am strongly raising my voice to show new HIV positive pregnant and breastfeeding women the benefit of adhering to PMTCT related services so that they can also have healthy and HIV-free children—like Alvine.

“An HIV-free generation is no longer a dream as I was thinking early,” continues Marie. “It is realistic and reachable. Many thanks to all PMTCT stakeholders.”

All four women now support and educate other HIV-positive pregnant and breastfeeding women to adhere fully in PMTCT programs.

“Now people are convinced that the issue of an HIV-free generation is possible through adherence to PMTCT programs,” says Nadine.

The Centre Mère-Enfant Barumbu is supported by the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) under funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

From left to right: Nadine Yalala and her daughter, Emmanuelle (3 years old), Ruth Kahemba and her daughter, Belfjora (7 months old), Helene Lukumbu and her son, Baraka (2 years old).

Marie Ntumba with her daughter Alvine (11 months old).