NGO Hosts Baby Shower to Highlight HIV-Positive Mothers Can Have Healthy Babies

The Homoeopathic Academy of Research and Charities (HARC), an NGO based in Parbhani, India, organized a baby shower for two pregnant women living with HIV (PLHIV) to raise awareness that they can give birth to HIV-negative children. The event featured Yashodha, who was diagnosed with HIV at birth, and Pallavi. HARC, founded in 2015 by Dr. Pavan Chandak and Dr. Asha Chandak, focuses on the rehabilitation, healthcare, and social integration of HIV-affected individuals, including arranging marriages and providing medical counseling. The article highlights that with proper Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) during pregnancy, the risk of mother-to-child transmission can be reduced to less than 1%. It details the rigorous testing protocol for newborns, including Early Infant Diagnosis via PCR tests and final antibody tests at 18 months. Success stories, such as Yashodha’s husband Kailash and another couple, Manthan and his wife, illustrate the positive outcomes of these interventions. The initiative aims to combat stigma and provide psychological support, enabling PLHIV to lead normal lives with families.