Tuitange Mothers' Support and Drama Group

The UNICEF programme offers HIV counselling and testing, provision of antiretroviral drugs, support for safe infant-feeding practices, early HIV testing on babies, and further antiretroviral treatment for mothers and babies who need it. The mothers' support group is attached to the local health clinic in Kitulo Ward, Makete District, Tanzania. They support the clinic services through home visits and the drama group Tuitange, which travels to different communities to educate people about PMTCT and the importance of exclusive breastfeeding in the first six months after a baby is born.

Some members of Tuitange are HIV positive and have chosen to be open about their status to encourage other women to get tested and to learn about how they can manage the infection and avoid passing HIV onto their babies. In 2012, the support group membership included 22 mothers and 13 fathers, who give psychosocial support to one another and assist HIV-positive women to follow up with their medical check-ups and treatment.

HIV, Maternal health

According to UNICEF, the mothers’ support group is achieving impressive results within the community. Couples understand the importance of being HIV tested when expecting a baby and no longer feel ashamed or embarrassed. As a result, a higher number of pregnant women and their partners are attending antenatal care, with uptake of HIV testing and counselling now correspondingly high. For those women found to be HIV positive, adherence to treatment has increased as a result of individual follow-up sessions encouraged by the support group.