Updates—

Pediatric HIV Care Program 2021

Executive Summary

Thank You!

 The Power of Love team and our Zambian families are grateful for your support. Your continued caring over the last several years has resulted in a community of healthy, well-informed children, and families self-reliant in taking care of their health.


Impact of COVID

According to a World Bank analysis, more countries are facing growing levels of acute food insecurity, which has been aggravated by the ongoing COVID pandemic and this is expected to continue through 2022. Also, an erosion of social cohesion due to COVID is the fastest growing threat to our planet. Third, the world is not on track to achieve goal 2 (or zero hunger) of UN’s sustainable development goals for 2030. Consequently, there is an immediate need to prioritize food security, health, and income stability

Rationale for Pediatric HIV Program

Globally, 17 million children have been orphaned due to AIDS and 83% live in Sub-Saharan Africa. In 2020, 1.7 million children were living with HIV but only 54% had access to ARV medication. Moreover, life expectancy for a child born with HIV is at best 5 years without treatment. Hence, there is a huge need to provide adequate care to vulnerable children living with HIV and to prevent new HIV infections. This is especially true in view of the ongoing pandemic and its impact on resource poor communities.

About Zambia

Zambia is a democratic country, rich in mineral resources and a young population (53% of its population is under the age of 18 with a median age of 17 years). Even though 55% of its population is living below the national poverty line, the country has made significant progress in reducing vertical transmission of HIV as over 90% of pregnant women are on treatment. However, 59% of children live in poor households with 45% living in extreme poverty, and 35% of children under five have stunted growth. In addition, most of its estimated one million orphans live with grandmothers/extended family who have little knowledge of HIV and no source of income. The ongoing pandemic has exacerbated this situation. Consequently, there is an immediate need to prioritize food security and health needs.

Program Activities Completed in 2021

  • 75 family members received training in hygiene, basic nursing, HIV care and prevention.
  • 75 new children were enrolled. This brings the total number of children enrolled to 500.
  • The Zambian team, their families, and all children and families enrolled were provided with education on COVID, and PPE.
  • All 500 HIV+ children enrolled receive a comprehensive package of life saving health care services. All are stable and/or improving in health.
  • 229 children were provided with funds for school expenses such as fees, uniforms, shoes, and book bags in 2021, as compared to 156 children in 2020.
  • All families received long lasting insecticide treated bed nets to prevent malaria.
  • All families received clean cooking stoves. These stoves have reduced fuel costs and improved health due to reduced smoke inhalation. To date, 8100 stoves have been provided.
  • COVID education workshops launched last year have benefitted more than 1,100 children to date.
  • Families and staff participated in a workshop to start backyard gardens.

Plan for 2022

For 2022, our plan is to continue to make families self-reliant in taking care of their health, and increasing the skill set of community members.

Program Need, Achievements, and Next Steps 

Program Need

The ongoing pandemic has magnified the need for a comprehensive pediatric HIV care program for several reasons. In Zambia, 59% of children live in poor households with 45% living in extreme in poverty, and 35% of children under five have stunted growth. In addition, most of Zambia’s estimated one million orphans, live with grandmothers/relatives. Many children suffer from trauma, abuse, lack of food, or grief at losing a parent and are in need counseling. Family members also need support as they lack resources and skills to care for all household members.

Ongoing Activities

  • Provision of food (mealie meal, beans, cooking oil) and medicines to 500 HIV+ children.
  • Provision of high protein soya supplement to 500 undernourished children.
  • Regular health monitoring via phone calls/in-person visits. Children who are sick/critical are visited in person. This has resulted in improved health for all chidlren and with 442 children having an undetectable viral load.
  • Provision of psychosocial counseling: This is critical as 70% of children live in households headed by older sibling/aunt/grandaunt/grandmothers. These children suffer from trauma, abuse, lack of food, or grief at losing a parent. Family members also need counseling as they have limited resources and may be sick themselves.
  • Disclosure process: Before, during, and post-disclosure the child (typically around 10-12 years old) is monitored closely to check for distress and behavior changes that could lead to missing medications.
  • Monitoring and training in adherence to medication provided to 312 children.
  • Education in HIV provided. As of December 2021, 87% of women caregivers were tested for HIV and several hundred more were encouraged to do the same. Out of 411 tested, 354 or 86% tested positive, are on treatment, and hence poor transmitters of the HIV virus.
  • Ongoing training in HIV: Family members (472 in all) were provided with ongoing training in hygiene, HIV care and prevention.
  • To reduce vertical transmission, HIV+ pregnant women are provided with education to ensure that their newborn infants are HIV free. To date, out of a total of 47 births, 46 children were born HIV free.
  • All families were provided with long lasting insecticide treated nets and education. As a result, there were no cases of malaria amongst beneficiaries.
  • School support (tuition, books, uniforms, shoes, bags) was provided to 229 and 156 children in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Currently, 93% of school age children are attending school and our goal is for all school age chidlren to be in school next year.
  • 8,100 families were provided with environmentally friendly cooking stoves. These stoves generate less smoke, use less fuel, and cook food faster. This has resulted in lower expenses for fuel, improved health due to lower smoke inhalation, ease of cooking, and a cleaner environment.
  • More than 1100 children benefitted from “COVID education” workshops. The workshops are free and open to the community and masks are provided.
  • A few families and staff participated in a workshop to start backyard gardens. The goal of these backyard gardens is to further improve nutrition and diet.

Plan for 2022

  • Add 50 children to bring the total to 550 children under our care.
  • Launch an out-reach program for young girls to educate them on STI’s, safe sex, and unwanted pregnancies.
  • Continue to provide food, and a comprehensive package of health care services to children enrolled.
  • Launch a community wide adherence program for adolescents and young adults as adherence rates are lowest for these age groups.
  • Train more families to start kitchen gardens in their homes.
  • Ensure that all school age children are in school. Increase school support (fees, uniforms, bags, and shoes) to more children this year.
  • Provide long lasting insecticide treated bed nets to all families.
  • Stay connected with graduates, support them if needed, and encourage them to mentor younger children.
  • Continue to educate women to eliminate vertical transmission of HIV.
  • Expand the skill set of community members via education and training programs.

Building Sustainable Communities

The comprehensive package of services provided takes care of physical, educational, social, psychological, and income generation, needs of the women and children. Every day we see families, transform themselves from a state of poor health, low education, and poverty to a state of being informed and self-reliant in caring for their health and taking charge of their lives. The result is residents have better skills, improved gender equity, and sustainable communities.