By Peter Duru, Makurdi

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) Nigeria has unveiled a community-driven radio initiative, “Mentor Mothers,” aimed at Preventing Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and improving maternal health outcomes across the country.

Speaking during a focused group discussion with PMTCT coordinators, mentor mothers, and Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs), AHF Nigeria’s Senior Advocacy and Marketing Manager, Mr. Steve Aborisade, said the weekly programme would air on ASO Radio to bridge critical gaps in awareness and access to prevention services.

Aborisade noted that pediatric HIV infections remain a major concern in Nigeria, largely due to limited knowledge among pregnant women about available prevention options.

“We realised that in Nigeria, one of the major gaps in HIV programming is pediatric HIV-transmission from mothers to their unborn children, which remains quite prevalent, and we want to eliminate it,” he said.

He explained that the 13-week radio programme was designed to reach underserved communities with accurate information on HIV prevention and treatment, leveraging the wide reach of radio as a communication tool.

According to him, the initiative had already been piloted in Benue State, where it recorded strong listener engagement, with many callers seeking information and guidance.

“We are impressed with the response so far and hopeful that similar acceptance will be achieved in other locations,” he added.

Aborisade further said the programme complements existing community interventions, including the deployment of mentor mothers, women living with HIV who had successfully given birth to HIV-negative children, to educate and support others.

Also speaking, Omoseke Bamijoko, Nurse and PMTCT Focal Person for AHF Nigeria in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stressed that adherence to PMTCT protocols enables HIV-positive pregnant women to deliver HIV-negative babies.

“In Nigeria, HIV testing is part of routine antenatal care. Once a pregnant woman tests positive, she is immediately enrolled in PMTCT services to prevent transmission to her child,” she said.

However, she identified low awareness and poor antenatal attendance as major barriers to the utilisation of these services, despite their availability in primary healthcare centres nationwide.

“Our goal is to expand information dissemination, increase awareness, and encourage women to access antenatal care and treatment services,” Bamijoko added.

Malam Nuhu Aliyu, PMTCT Focal Person at the FCT AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme (FASCP), said the initiative would help reach underserved communities and support Nigeria’s goal of eliminating HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis by 2030.

“Let people understand the benefits of testing. Even if they are positive, they can live positively, and if they are negative, there are ways to protect themselves,” he said.

Mrs. Stella Ebeh, Deputy Coordinator of the FCT Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASHWAN), emphasised the importance of women’s empowerment and sustained awareness campaigns in reducing mother-to-child transmission rates.

Similarly, Hajiya Zainab Rabiu, a Traditional Birth Attendant at Dankwa Primary Health Centre, said the programme would strengthen efforts to educate pregnant women on the importance of HIV screening and PMTCT services.

Esther John, a mentor mother from Kuje community, highlighted persistent misconceptions about HIV status and treatment.

“There are people who believe they can never be infected, and even if they test positive, they avoid treatment. There is an urgent need for massive awareness, especially among youths and pregnant women,” she said, calling for improved access to testing kits and antiretroviral drugs.