THE PROBLEM:

• Roughly 23 million people are living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
• It is estimated that more than 16 million children under 18 have been orphaned by AIDS with 14.8 million of these children living in sub-Saharan Africa.
• 6,000 people die each day in Africa from AIDS.

HIV/AIDS continues to have a devastating impact on people living in resource-limited countries around the globe.  Over 700,000 newly born infants become HIV positive each year with little access to HIV care. Without intervention, 15%-45% of these infants born to HIV-infected mothers get the virus. In the absence of antiretroviral therapy, more than 50% of children will die before their second birthday and 75% will die by age five. That’s just not ok for us.

THE SOLUTION:

Simple HIV testing for pregnant women, specialized testing for infants born to HIV positive mothers, and treatment if positive, saves lives. The facilitation of HIV DNA PCR testing of perinatally-exposed infants, and the early-initiation of antiretroviral therapy when identified as positive has proven to reduce the chance of that child dying by 75% in resource-limited countries.

“No child should be born with HIV; no child should be an orphan because of HIV; no child should die due to the lack of access to treatment.” Ebube Sylvia Taylor, 11 years old.

OUR PART:

Sometimes solution require us to think a little differently.  This is one of those times. Using technology to improve health is at the core of what we do at Global Health Innovations. In areas of extreme poverty, that can be tough but not impossible.

So we put together the HITSystem.  In simple terms it:

• Reduces infant mortality associated with HIV/AIDS
• Tracks infants at critical points to rule out further transmission
• Utilizes text messaging to improve mother and infant HIV care and treatment

It’s far more complex really, but the HITSystem plays a comprehensive role in improving the health outcomes of women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. This intervention program drastically improves the facilitation of timely HIV DNA-PCR testing and ultimately the early-initiation of anti-retroviral therapy. We are currently in the beginning stages of partnering with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) in Nairobi, Kenya to pilot and implement this program in 10 hospitals on a national level. The HITSystem will also be utilized in the Maganga Village Hospital in Malawi to improve outcomes related to maternal and pediatric HIV care.

THE PROBLEM:

The human tragedy of a child becoming orphaned is a daily reality around the globe. These children are not statistics, they are real children living without parents to protect and nurture them. It is estimated that more than 16 million children under 18 have been orphaned by AIDS with 14.8 million of these children living in sub-Saharan Africa. Children by far are the most vulnerable among people living in resource limited countries. Already disadvantaged, limited or no access to basic health care services only throws these children further into poverty and desperation.

THE SOLUTION:

Communities, churches, organizations and governments are beginning to understand the desperate need for comprehensive services to care for children that are orphaned and vulnerable around the globe. These partnerships are essential to insure these children are protected and empowered to reach their full potential in life. Health care provides an opportunity to identify children most in need and also provides a foundation that allows them to start living productive and healthy lives.

OUR PART:

In the past two years, we have assessed over 2000 children living in orphanages in Haiti, Ghana and Liberia. We feel called to serve orphans and vulnerable children around the globe through medical care assessments and program planning. These health services include the facilitation of immunizations, surgical services, clean water provision, deworming, acute and chronic disease assessment and management, nutritional analysis and programatic interventions, HIV/AIDS testing and treatment and distribution of thousands of insecticide-treated mosquito nets to prevent malaria.  You name it chances are we can do it, or we will organize a medical team to make it happen.