Before, During, and After Pregnancy: Always Women

"In the mornings here at our facility, we give talks, providing counseling and information," says Dercia Baloi, a nurse at the Julius Nyerere Health Center in Gaza, Mozambique.

​In Mozambique, young people’s rights to live a healthy sexual and reproductive life are routinely compromised, and young women are particularly vulnerable. The HIV prevalence is 11.1% among young women aged 15 -24 and it is 3.7% among young men.

This project works to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV. 

Under this project, Pathfinder is developing and implementing a community-based model that supports the health and rights of young women of reproductive age by addressing the four prongs of PMTCT:

1. primary prevention of HIV among young women of childbearing age; 
2. preventing unintended pregnancies among young women living with HIV; 
3. preventing transmission of HIV infection from HIV-positive pregnant women to their children; and
4. building demand for and linkages to contraception, ANC, delivery, and postpartum care for young women living with HIV.

Pathfinder will work closely with, and build the capacity of, four local organizations based in Xai Xai City and Xai Xai District in Gaza province, where prevalence rates are exceedingly high. These organizations will connect women to needed services and engage with community members to reduce stigma and discrimination.