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ALLEVIATE SUFFERING OF BABIES WITH AIDS AND HIV

by Theodora Aggeles, RN
AIDS babies

It's imperative to alleviate the suffering of babies with AIDS and HIV by stopping the spread of the disease, since most children with AIDS die before their ninth birthday.

In some South African communities, up to 50% of young pregnant women have AIDS, and expect to deliver AIDS-infected babies.

Proper prenatal care can alleviate suffering of babies with AIDS and HIV in places like Kenya, where more than 100,000 children are infected, or in Tanzania where more than 1.3 million adults and children are infected with AIDS and HIV.

HIV testing, education about breastfeeding, and administering AZT to HIV positive pregnant women and their newborns after birth significantly reduces the rate of transmission of AIDS and HIV from mothers to their babies.

Helping mothers to deliver healthy babies, not AIDS babies, is the goal of many volunteer vacation programs. Throughout the world, programs focus on alleviating the suffering of pregnant women and babies with AIDS and HIV; but they need your help.

Nurses, teachers and social workers can turn a short-term volunteer vacation into opportunities to change the life of a pregnant woman and her baby, while making the world a safer place to live.

  • Through the Global Volunteer Network, for as few as two weeks or as long as six months, volunteer nurses and physicians can provide care and counseling to pregnant women with HIV/AIDS. Volunteer social workers and teachers are also urgently needed to counsel and educate pregnant women with AIDS. Program fees are relatively low. Volunteer opportunities are available year round.
  • Global Service Corps places nurses and doctors in Tanzania, where alleviating the suffering of AIDS babies is an ongoing battle. Social workers and teachers can also volunteer, via the HIV/AIDS Prevention and Care program's community forums or three-week summer Life Skill's camp. The camp focuses on teaching secondary school students about HIV and AIDS prevention. Student internship programs for credit are also available.
  • Cross Cultural Solutions serves babies with AIDS and HIV as well as pregnant high-risk women in Brazil, Costa Rica, Peru, Tanzania, and Thailand. For volunteers, no experience is necessary, though previous experience is considered in placement choice. Though program fees are relatively high, you can participate even if you have only one week of vacation time.

On your next vacation, you can deliver hope to high-risk woman and prevent suffering of newborns who may otherwise be destined for an abbreviated life of pain and shame.