This model not only allows us to involve the family, but also the community

“While we are engaging the community, it makes the community empowered.” We spoke with Abilito Pintainho of N’weti – Aidsfonds paediatric HIV partner in Mozambique – about the work of his organisation, the added value of the Kids to Care model and what is needed to end AIDS in children.

What does Nweti do to ensure children living with HIV adhere to treatment?

When we have the child on care and treatment, we involve the family, educating the family to learn on how to support the child. All the children that are in our program are linked to a community actor, depending on the age of the child. So if the child is under 10 years old, that child will be linked to a mental mother, which is a woman who is also HIV positive and knows how to care for an HIV positive child. If the child is over 10 years, will be linked to a lay counselor with a who is a community actor, but he’s well, well trained on offering psychosocial support.
We understand that HIV is not only a health problem so we also engage the family, the caregiver, in some packages to strengthen their socioeconomical situations so that they can be ready to also provide like food and transportation for the child to be retained in care and treatment.

What result under Kids to Care that N’weti has achieved are you most proud of?

One thing that we are proud of is the retention and kids are acquiring vital suppression while they are being followed using this model. This model not only allows us to involve the family, but also the community.

Why do you think is the Kids to Care model so effective?

The Kids to Care model is effective because it allows us to not only offer the services for the child, but also for the family and also for the for the community, and while we are engaging the community, it makes the community empowered. So we are confident that if Aidsfonds and Nweti leave that community so they can continue supporting each other and living their lives to acquire their full potential

What is needed to achieve the global goals on children living with HIV?

To achieve the global goals on children living with HIV, we need to empower the community, because children are there in the community. Without the community, we are not going to find those children. There a lot of places with who don’t have any support yet. So I think all of us must be engaged, must be determined to do our best to acquire these goals towards kids.