Am Pregnant And Have Malaria

Al lavoro per pubblicizzare il PMTCT


A series of special photo sessions, especially designed to capture the cultural nuances of the various areas of the Amhara region, natch environments and costumes by refocusing on the people who actually live in those areas, all to get the right images that can effectively promote the PMTCT (Protection of Mother To Child Transmission), the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child. With this purpose was held last week the short trip that saw some members of the Ethiopian CVM Haileyesus, and Betrò Metek, an Italian volunteer, Hugh, and a professional photographer, Salomon, percorrere chilometri e chilometri in giro per la regione, passando per i grandi centri ma soprattutto fermandosi nelle aree rurali. L’ONG italiana sta infatti lavorando ad un’importante campagna pubblicitaria in collaborazione con l’HAPCO (l’ufficio preposto al controllo e alla prevenzione dell’HIV), affinché si diffonda una maggior consapevolezza dei rischi che ci sono nelle gravidanze quando la madre è sieropositiva, delle modalità di prevenzione, della necessità di effettuare controlli medici nelle strutture apposite e dell’importanza che tutta la comunità si impegni per promuovere comportamenti e pratiche utili a bloccare la trasmissione del virus al nascituro. Purtroppo, specie nelle aree rurali, knowledge about AIDS is still too low, especially in pregnancy and at delivery, no special attention or respect the rules and precautions that make it possible to reduce the risks. A high number of pregnant women do not submit to any visit, and many still give birth at home without medical attention.
The advertising campaign will focus on a simple message but full of meaning: the whole community, from lower levels to the authorities and religious figures who have special respect, is responsible for a future without children afflicted with HIV. The photo sessions have ended, with not a few difficulties arising from concerns to let people capture to appear later in the briefing materials, and now is in the process of editing phase diagram for the end of November and all the advertising material will be ready and distributed, a little 'everywhere, in the Amhara region.

Camilla Corradini - Volunteer CVM, Ethiopia