Mother To Child Transmission

Submitted by editor_en on Mon, 03/17/2008 - 13:29.

I was watching Sport Relief on Friday night. For those of you that haven't heard of it - it's a big fundraising initiative by the BBC. The aim is to raise money for disadvantaged children, gloabally, by getting everyone involed in some sort of sport. David Walliams (the comedian) swam the Britsh Channel, celebrities challenged each other in boxing and tennis, and everyone around the UK was challenged to run a mile.

Annie Lennox, of Eurythmics fame contributed - while she didn't take part in a sport, she did pay a visit to a young girl living in South Africa.

There were two video clips by Annie. The first showed her meeting seven year old, Avelile. She had full blown AIDS - she was frail and very ill. The little girl was born with HIV - passed on by her Mother who was not able to get access to the treatment that can prevent mother to child infection. Sadly, Avelile's mother died just after the first film was shot - and it didn't look as though there was much hope for Avelile either.

The second piece of video footage showed Avelile just 5 months later. I could not believe that it was the same little girl! During this time she had been given access to treatment and proper nutritious food - and was living a fairly healthy life. It was quite unbelievable.

Here are some photos that show the difference good treatment and food can make...

These videos cemented what i already knew. That access to the drug that prevents mother to child transmission should be made readily available. While Avelile was lucky to get treatment once infected, there are so many children out there who will face a very different fate. And to think, it could all be prevented with a pill. It makes me so mad - the fact that money is put above a life.

UNICEF are big campaigners for the availability of this drug. They have recently produced a short film called The Gift. It shows the real impact of mother to child transmission - and why it just can't go on.



Watch short film, THE GIFT, by clicking here

Your comments


ana(United States) , March 17th, 2008 - 13.54
me too
this makes me so mad too. so many lives taken so needlessly.

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