Councilors advised to encourage pregnant women to seek antenatal care

Nkenda Simon Sunde, outgoing Mayor of Misaje council presently councilor from Kamine says it is time politicians pay more attention to the health conditions of the population.

He says with the ravaging effect of the HIV pandemic presently rocking the municipality, if care is not taken politicians would lose people to vote them come 2018 election. He made this statement while talking to Eden recently.

The former mayor challenged all the councilor of Misaje municipality to salvage the situation by embarking on a door-to-door campaign encouraging pregnant women to attend antenatal care in maternities in order to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV.

The former mayor said most at times politicians forget the active population by talking only politics and how to get their votes without any concern for the electorates well being.

He cried for the youth, saying that they are the unfortunate victims given that they are very sexually active.

Nkenda however heaved a sigh of relief as he said people are today getting more aware of the dangers of HIV and some are taking the courage to get tested and know their status.

While enquiring to know the rate of antenatal care attendance, a nurse at the health centre, Ms Susan Yungji, said attendance is very encouraging and that young men are beginning to accompany their pregnant wives for antenatal care.

The challenge now, she disclosed is that infected persons are required to travel right up to Nkambe before getting anti retroviral drugs which are still very costly.

According to Jaclyn Escuderu, an American volunteer working in the area, there is need to rigorously sensitise on the pandemic.

She regretted the fact that women in the area are still very vulnerable to their men.

The use of contraceptives, she said is seen as a negative factor that portrays lack of confidence on the part of the women if she dares recommend the use of condom.

Escuderu recommended that if those who are infected and placed under anti-retroviral could come together under an association, there are chances that they could attract sponsors to fund some income generating activities.