Many abandoned babies are HIV positive - doctor

Many of the toddlers recovered by the police from the streets and other places in Mbarara town where they are dumped and abandoned by their mothers have been tested and found to be HIV positive, an obstetrician and gynaecologist doctor has revealed. 

Dr. Godfrey Mugyenyi Rwambuka, a senior lecturer and clinician obstetrician and gynaecologist in the faculty of medicine at Mbarara University of Science and technology said that eight out of 129 babies currently being looked after at Divine Mercy Home were HIV positive.

According to Dr. Mugyenyi, many of the babies are abandoned in critical health conditions and die before they reach the police or soon after they have been recovered after contracting diseases and other infections before or after they are abandoned.

He said some mothers abandon the children when they are sick and cannot access treatment.

"The number of HIV infected children indicates that there are many mothers out there who are infected with HIV but do not deliver from health facilities and therefore infect their babies with the virus," Dr. Mugyenyi explained.  

He, however, said after failing to trace their mothers, the police hands over the babies to Divine Mercy Babies Home in Mbarara town, which was started in 2011 by the Fr. John Baptist Bashobora, who saw the need to find a decent home and provide care for the abandoned innocent children.

"Many children come with medical conditions like chronic diseases, but on arrival, we screen them and those who test HIV positive are taken to Mbarara Hospital, where they receive further management and later put on anti-retroviral therapy," Dr. Mugyenyi, the center's medical director and projects coordinator explained.  

At least 45 have been enrolled in school under the Fr. Bash Foundation, which cares for disadvantaged children.

He said that the HIV infected children are integrated into the home but they are given special treatment, with a nurse permanently stationed at the center to monitor their progress," he said.

Some cases are referred to Divine Mercy Hospital, also owned by the priest and returned to the centre. 

Dr. Mugyenyi was recently briefing officials of Medical Access, a supply chain management logistics company dealing in health commodities with specialty in supply and distribution of ARV drugs and laboratory reagents.

The team, through staff contributions raised money, which they used to buy an assortment of items for the children.

The donations included mattresses, blankets, television screen, scholastic items, play kits and outdoor playing equipment.

"Every year we contribute money to help the disadvantaged children and our theme this year is ‘Restoring Hope Initiative'," said Josephine Tamale, an administrator at Medical Access.

She led the team that toured the home and interacted with the children.

She said that the center still needs assistance to make it a comfortable home for the children who have no parents.

The home had been planned for 30 children but the number keeps on growing due to the increasing cases of abandonment in the area.