Activities

HIV/AIDS - UNICEF in action

© UNICEF/MOZA/00900/G.Pirozzi

In Mozambique, political commitment to combat HIV/AIDS is strong. The Government established a National AIDS Council (CNCS) in May 2000 to co-ordinate the response to the epidemic. In 2004, the country’s second National Strategic Plan to fight HIV/AIDS was approved. And the new curriculum for primary schools, introduced in 2004, laid the groundwork for systematic HIV/AIDS prevention education starting at grade 4.

For UNICEF, the fight against HIV/AIDS is a priority. UNICEF works with a range of actors, including Government, civil society, communities, families, young people and the mass media. The focus is on four key areas:

Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT)
More than 30,000 children are infected with HIV through their mothers every year in Mozambique. As part of the Integrated Health Network approach of the Government, the health system offers Prevention-of-Mother-to-Child-Transmission (PMTCT) services. The combination of counseling and administration of Nevirapine to the mother and the baby can reduce the risk of transmission by 50 %.  UNICEF has been actively involved in shaping and expanding the PMTCT programme in Mozambique. (Fact sheet on PMTCT)

Prevention among young people
Young people in Mozambique present a window of opportunity for HIV/AIDS prevention. UNCEF supports peer-to-peer education and clinical consultations at youth-friendly health centres.

UNICEF further supports school-based HIV/AIDS education through organisations of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Testimonials on their sero-status have become an effective tool used to reduce stigma and to increase awareness. The first such association – Kindlimuka - has been working since 1996. The work of these 21 groups is now being coordinated by the umbrella organization RENSIDA. (Fact sheet on prevention among young people)

Paediatric AIDS
UNICEF has supported care and treatment of HIV-positive children since 2002. The country’s first specialized Pediatric Day Hospital for children living with HIV/AIDS was opened in Maputo with UNICEF support in 2004. Furthermore, UNICEF supports community volunteers who provide home-based care to families and children living with HIV/AIDS. (Fact sheet on Paediatric AIDS).

Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCs)
UNICEF is supporting PLWHA associations, NGOs and community based organisations to strengthen local capacities in response to the HIV/AIDS crisis. Communities are trained in setting up support committees for children who are taking care of sick relatives and for those who already lost their parents to AIDS. (Fact sheet on OVC)

NGOs and community based organisations are also supported in linking the children up to social services. The children are also provided with basic education material. (Fact sheet on HelpAge)

Progress in 2004

• A total of 15 new PMTCT sites opened in 2004 with the support of UNICEF bringing the total number of supported sites to 20, out of a total of 44 sites nation-wide.

• In 2004, a total of 32 UNICEF-supported youth friendly health services reached out to nearly 50,000 young people with peer counselling.

• UNICEF procured ARV syrup for 200 young children living with HIV/AIDS in Gaza province and Maputo. In addition, UNICEF supported the training of 40 Mozambican doctors in Paediatric AIDS.

• UNICEF supported 20 NGOs and community-based organisations working with orphaned and vulnerable children.