GHESKIO's Nutrition Program

Mothers’ Clubs:

GHESKIO serves over 300 HIV-positive pregnant women a year.  To enhance the care and support given to these patients, the nutrition program organizes Mothers’ Clubs.  As part of the clubs, women meet monthly to receive one-on-one medical care from GHESKIO pediatricians and nurses.  The mothers are grouped by their babies’ ages so that clinicians are able to address the health issues that mothers will observe at each stage of their babies’ growth.  Most importantly, the Mothers’ Clubs act as a supportive environment where women can share experiences and gain helpful advice from one another.  Particularly for HIV-positive women whose families do not know their status, the Mothers’ Clubs provide a safe space to foster a sense of community.

Success

GHESKIO recorded a dramatic reduction in stunting and wasting in children whose mothers were a part of the Mothers’ Clubs compared to children visiting the clinic in previous years.  In addition to the provision of food, the group setting where women are counseled on infant feeding, health and development impacts these improvements greatly.  The resources and support the mothers provide for one another reinforce the focus on the healthy development of their children. 

A Growing Program

As one of many initiatives GHESKIO is undertaking to bridge the gap between clinical care and community development, the nutrition program is gaining its own newly constructed Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Center supported by the M.A.C AIDS Fund.  The center will provide a welcoming space for the Mothers’ Clubs to meet.  It will also house a Pediatric Clinic, Ob/GYN Clinic, Adolescent Clinic, Pharmacy-Phlebotomy, Community Nutrition, and Clinic Nutrition to provide a comprehensive range of healthcare services for women and children.  The nutrition program has grown from a focus on newborn nutrition to include HIV-affected children from birth to 2 years old.  Most recently the program expanded to include a community outreach aspect for those affected by the earthquake.