| Reporting Organization: | International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF) |
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| Total Budget ($CAD): | $ 457,000 |
| Timeframe: | December 23, 2011 - February 28, 2015 |
| Status: | Completion |
| Contact Information: | Unspecified |
International Development and Relief Foundation (IDRF)
| Zambia - $ 457,000.00 (100.00%) | |
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| Sexual Health & Rights (60 %) | |
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| Health Systems, Training & Infrastructure (40 %) | |
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This project aims to improve maternal and child health by improving the understanding of safe breastfeeding practices in order to enable HIV-positive mothers to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The project targets the Lusaka district in Zambia, reaching over 1,500 HIV positive women. The project focuses on strengthening maternal and child health systems related to HIV/AIDS, improving food security for HIV-positive mothers, and fostering community mobilization and education. Activities include: promoting safe breastfeeding; developing food programs for families affected by HIV/AIDS; and training 300 health workers providing maternal and infant health care for families affected by HIV/AIDS. The International Development and Relief Foundation is working in partnership with the University of Zambia to implement this project. This project is part of Canada’s Maternal, Newborn and Child Health commitment.
| Gender and age: | Adult women Adult men Adolescent females Under-5 children |
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| Total Direct Population: | 2,293 |
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Results achieved as of the end of the project (February 2015) include: (1) 91 health workers and 30 community health volunteers were trained on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV protocols (73 of whom were women); (2) 30 community volunteers were trained as outreach workers in PMTCT; (3) 1,456 people received health services provided by free health clinics, including 934 women, 249 men, and 273 children under five, which is double the initial expectation, and 218 of these were given a referral to seek further medical attention at nearby health facilities; (4) 293 women living with HIV were enrolled in a food hamper program and received food on a monthly basis; and (5) 393 women received nutrition training to help them prepare nutritious, local and affordable meals through a community kitchen established by the project.
These results contributed to reducing stigma for people with HIV, increasing safe practices to prevent HIV, improving the use of best practices for PMTCT, and improving food security, or access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food, for families affected by HIV/AIDS.
