 With the birth of a healthy grand daughter I reflect on the differences in the care provided to mother and child. In Canada, the health of the mother and child is monitored from the moment of conception and on through the first year. In Africa, this is not so. 50% of children born HIV positive will die before they are two years old. In countries where an HIV positive mother receives anti-retroviral drugs to prevent vertical transmission, babies may be born healthy but without continued medications for the mother, she will die leaving an orphan child behind. I believe every child deserves the best opportunities in life and this inequity breaks my heart and motivates me in our work to make a difference.
1 Comment
Orleen Maclulich
1/16/2013 03:10:55 pm
How poignantly articulated! The divide is so great. The sad part is the divide doesn't have to exist. With antiretrovirals we can now save the parenting generation to go on to nuture their children. But where is the political and financial will to make this happen? The HIV / Aids pandemic is a tragic chapter in Africa's history but knowing we can make a difference and not acting is a tragic chapter in Canada's history. Thank goodness Canadian Grandmothers are raising their voices. Leave a Reply. |
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