Repsol YPF

5º Improve Maternal Health

Project Life of the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross

I. Background

Nowadays Trinidad and Tobago has the fifth highest rate of mother-to-child HIV transmission in the region (1%). Six of every 1,000 children are born HIV positive. These statistics can change with constant intervention for women that are pregnant from the first trimester.

II. Description of the project

Project Life is a programme for the Prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission. Preventing mother-to-child HIV transmission is an important strategy in the efforts to reduce HIV rates in Trinidad and Tobago.

a) General Objectives:

•  Help reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission.

- To provide pregnant women with correct information about HIV/AIDS and the risk for their future children.
- To help pregnant women accept that they are HIV positive.
- To help HIV positive women prepare for treatment.

• Use volunteers effectively as the main factor to help the persons to learn.

- Select a group of 15 to 20 volunteers to be trained by the delegation of Red Cross in Trinidad and Tobago.
- To train volunteers for 2 weeks in HIV/AIDS and basic information about pregnancies
- To put volunteers with nurses to offer services to pregnant women.

b) Specific Objectives:

Mt. Hope Hospital’s prenatal clinic took part in the project and, together with the volunteers and the Coordinator of the Project Life, they established the following specific objectives:

- Create links between the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross (TTRC) and the Department of Health to facilitate the implementation of the Project Life.
- Hire an Adviser of the Project Life to carry out the project.
- The development of a network of relations with the National Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission prevention Programme.
- The establishment of an association of training with the Programme of Volunteers and Tests (JHPIEGO, a subsidiary of the John Hopkins University).
- The creation of a mixed committee of implementation and supervision with key personnel from the Authority of Health the North Central Region. 
- The establishment of a mixed committee of evaluation of the project.

c) Results / Beneficiaries

• Approximately 900 women were studied and treated.  
• 60 women voluntarily took the test during the project´s implementation period (2003 - 2005).
• 10 HIV positive women received advice after the test. 
• 150 women with HIV took part in educational group meetings for pregnant women at the Mt. Hope Hospital’s prenatal clinic.
• 15 pregnant women had pre-test consultations at the Clinic.  
• 6 HIV positive pregnant women had post-test consultations in the Clinic.  
•  13 volunteers received retraining in the Project Life.  
• 40 people were present at the Popular Program of the Department of Health for the meetings of trainings of the staff and of the coordinator, on the topics of HIV and of Sexual Reproductive Health.
• 70 people took part of the Program of Education and Demonstration of using Condoms, held by the Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross.
• 130 students, of the Women’s College Naparima, between 17 and 19 years of age, took part in sexual education programmes.