Judith Haltebaye, a midwife with 15 years of experience, has been serving at the Abena-Atetip Health Centre in central N’Djamena for the past seven years. Throughout her career, she has supported hundreds of women during their pregnancies and beyond. One of her most memorable cases is that of 34-year-old Menodjie, who discovered she was living with HIV while expecting her second child. Thanks to the support she received, Menodjie was able to give birth to a healthy child, free from the virus.
In Chad, an estimated 65,000 women over the age of 15 were living with HIV in 2023. The HIV prevalence rate among women aged 15 to 49 years was 1.3%. To combat the spread of the virus, the Government of Chad launched the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) Programme in 2005. This initiative aims to protect children born to HIV-positive mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
The PMTCT Programme has seen significant success in reducing mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The transmission rate has decreased from 29% in 2012 to 19% in 2023. By the end of 2023, 91,000 HIV-exposed children tested negative for the virus, and 1,300 new infant infections were prevented. These achievements highlight the positive impact of the programme, which continues to grow and evolve.
Dr. Hassan Ndengar, HIV focal point for the southern district of N’Djamena, emphasizes the importance of prevention in controlling HIV transmission. “If we screen pregnant women, we can reduce transmission rates and break the chain of infection,” he says. Early detection is key to lowering the prevalence of HIV in the population, and the PMTCT Programme is central to this effort.
Midwives, doctors, and paramedics play a critical role in Chad’s HIV prevention efforts. To strengthen their capacity, healthcare workers have received technical and financial support from international organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO). WHO has also helped develop national guidelines and implemented monitoring systems to ensure the programme’s success.
In recent years, 750 healthcare workers in Chad have been trained on the comprehensive management of HIV and hepatitis. The training emphasizes the importance of HIV/AIDS testing for all women attending antenatal consultations. Women who test positive are provided with free care, including counselling and antiretroviral medicines (ARVs), which are vital in preventing mother-to-child transmission.
ARVs have transformed the lives of many women living with HIV. In 2023, 7,700 pregnant women in Chad required ARV treatment, and 70% of them received it, an increase from 64% in 2022. For women like Menodjie, ARVs have been life-changing. “These medicines have given me back my strength. Before, I couldn’t even lift a cup. Afterward, my delivery went well, and my daughter was born without the virus,” she shares.
The success of the PMTCT Programme has also led to a shift in attitudes. Many HIV-positive women are now confident in their ability to have healthy pregnancies, knowing that following the protocol can prevent transmission to their children. This newfound trust in the healthcare system has been instrumental in the fight against HIV.
In collaboration with the Government of Chad, WHO is working to strengthen the PMTCT Programme by mobilizing resources, revising standards and guidelines, and enhancing diagnostic tools. WHO is also integrating the control of hepatitis B and syphilis into the programme, ensuring that maternal, neonatal, and child health services are comprehensive.
This approach is helping to improve maternal and child health, reduce mortality rates, and strengthen the health system. It is also promoting human rights by placing the patient at the center of care. As Chad continues to make progress toward achieving the 95-95-95 targets for HIV testing, treatment, and viral load suppression, the future looks promising for the country’s efforts to combat HIV/AIDS and protect the health of its mothers and children.
