Sunday Times, South Africa - Sunday, January 31, 1999
Natalie Kammies
The nurses are from Michael Mapongwana hospital which is one of two hospitals in the area where the AIDS drug AZT is being given to HIV-positive mothers in a pilot project.
The programme started there and at Site B day hospital on January 4. It is the only AZT programme in the country which is funded by the province.
Latest figures from both hospitals show that of the 406 mothers tested, 53 where HIV-positive.
AZT could stop the transmission from mother to child by 50 percent.
Mothers found to be HIV-positive would start getting the drug from the 36th week of pregnancy.
A sister in charge of the Midwife Obstetrics Unit at Michael Mapongwana said that by January 20, 206 mothers had been tested, 33 of whom were positive.
Two were 14 years old and the others' aged between 18 to 30 years.
"We didn't expect them to be so young, that is why we are shocked. It was a trauma . . . extremely painful. I really feel it for them," said the sister.
She said all mothers were shocked at their results. "They do cry but you allow them to because it's part of the healing process."
The one 14-year-old had already received her results but late this week the other still had not returned to the hospital to get her results.
No mothers at Michael Mapongwana had yet been started on the course of AZT as they were between 22 and 28 weeks pregnant.
But the sister said there was hope for the mothers.
"There are options for all of them. There are support groups and they will get vitamins after delivery. We are not going to desert them after birth."
She said that although staff were upset by the results, they were getting support from their supervisor and the head of the programme, Saadiq Kariem.
Although there was a large number of mothers coming for counselling and testing, the staff had been coping well.
Kariem, also head of the Western Cape's Aids programme, said: "We were expecting more of the reproductive age group of 16 to 25, who are more likely to be HIV-positive.
"The younger ones - that's still a bit unexpected. I thought they would have been more in their 20s."
At Site B, 200 women had been tested and 20 diagnosed as HIV-positive by the end of last week. The age groups were between 16 and 25 years.
None had been started on the programme as the mothers were between 12 and 28 weeks' pregnant.
Kariem said 98 percent of women had agreed to be tested and only a "handful" said they would still consider participating in the programme.
The programme will continue for 12 months.
990131
ST990104
Copyright © 1999 - The Sunday Times. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the Sunday Times Permissions Desk.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Elton John AIDS Foundation UK, the National Library of Medicine, AIDS Walk of Orange County, and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 1999. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 1999. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .