Local clinic hosts fundraising event on Mother’s Day

Witkoppen Clinic hosted a fundraising campaign on Mother’s Day, 9 May, and raised R17 944 to help prevent mother to child transmission of HIV.

Dr Jean Bassett, the executive director at Witkoppen Clinic, said the funds raised would be channeled towards the Future Realized through Education, Support and Healthcare (Fresh) programme which focuses on supporting the first 1 000 days of life, spanning roughly between conception and a baby’s second birthday.

“The funds will help us with the provision of a complete health check-up and care of the mother during pregnancy, the postnatal period and her child until 18 months of age.

Transmission of HIV from mother to child can occur during pregnancy, labour, and delivery or during breastfeeding.

“It is therefore crucial to continue testing both the mother and the child during the postnatal period to detect zero-conversion early and commence treatment immediately,” she said.

“Immunisation is also an important and simple way of protecting children from dangerous and often preventable fatal illnesses.

“Witkoppen ensures that a child is immunised at the right time according to the prescribed national guidelines.”

Basset urged members of the public to continue to support the clinic’s initiative.

“The clinic currently provides comprehensive care and treatment to 522 HIV positive moms and their children.

In addition, our clinic monitors almost 1 000 HIV positive mothers during their antenatal and postnatal period each year to ensure that they do not pass HIV to their babies.”