Living Proof: Ethel (and Prince)'s Success Story
When the community members of Khwethenmule Village in southern Malawi's Thyolo District were asked to select one of their own to be trained as a volunteer at nearby Malamulo Hospital, they chose Ethel Matewere, 35, - "because they saw I was helpful to them," she recalls.
Ethel thrived in her new role, immersing herself in Malamulo Hospital's home-based care volunteer program. She enjoyed visiting clients and providing much-needed items like soap and medication. As Ethel learned more about HIV and AIDS, which affected so many of her clients, she grew curious about her own status. Ethel went for testing and counseling, and found out she was HIV-positive - and pregnant. Malamulo Hospital directs an integrated HIV/AIDS prevention project that serves a population of 70,000 in Thyolo District and 59,000 in adjacent Chikwawa District at its sister clinic, Ngabu. A key objective in the project is increased demand and provision of HIV/AIDS services at the clinic and community levels - including services for HIV positive women who are pregnant. Pact Malawi began partnering with Malamulo Hospital in the spring of 2007 to provide capacity building assistance and administer a grant from the United States (U.S.) President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through the U.S. Agency for International Development. WIth Pact's support, Malamulo Hospital has now expanded its antenatal program to include HIV testing and counseling (HTC), prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) services, counseling on feeding options, and treatment of opportunistic infections. Since 2007, 3,041 pregnant women have received HTC at Malamulo Hospital. In addition, more HIV-positive women are choosing to take advantage of PMTCT services - a 366% increase from 2004 to 2008 - which means more babies are born HIV-free.
Today, Ethel points to her three-year old son as evidence that the PMTCT program at Malamulo Hospital is working. "The project has really benefited me, especially for Prince, my child, who is HIV-negative," she says. "We should be thankful for the nurses who are working hard to achieve the goal of this project."
Malamulo Hospital has found that volunteers like Ethel are some of the most effective food soldiers in the fight against HIV/AIDS, since they provide encouragement to their friends and neighbors to take advantage of the hospital's services. "After I found out that I was HIV positive, I went home and encouraged people in my community to come to Malamulo Hospital to be tested as well, especially those of reproductive age," Ethel describes. "For those who are pregnant, I encourage them to come so that their babies won't get HIV." Ethel continues to benefit from PMTCT program at Malamulo Hospital, taking her ARVs and participating in the mothers' support group. And she still volunteers in home-based care, lending her helpful spirit to clients in Khwethenmule Village and beyond.
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