BLOOM PROJECT
Babies Living Optimally and opportunely with their Mothers
Uganda Aids commission fact sheet states that HIV disproportionately affects females more than it does males. In 2023, 89.4% of adolescent girls aged 10-19 years reported new HIV cases in 2023. 4 in 5 new HIV cases were adoloscent girls and young women, with the leading causes of increased spread being;
- Teenage pregancy
- Early marriages
- Gender based Violence
Joy for children Uganda is implementing ‘Babies Living Optimally and Opportunely with their Mothers Project (a.k.a. ‘BLOOM project’) in Kawempe, Nakawa, Rubaga, Makindye divisions all within Kampala district.
The BLOOM project is here to provide a healthy future for children affected by HIV and their young mothers living with HIV in Uganda. With a keen focus on the age bracket of 10 – 24, this project aims to bring healthcare, zero new child infections and the hope of a future closer to these young mothers.
A high number of children and pregnant and lactating young women living with HIV are still unaware of their HIV status or are not able to start or continue their treatment. Various barriers are hindering them from accessing the services they need to live healthy lives or to ensure children are born HIV free and remain so (WHO/ UNICEF, 2021).
The project works to improve maternal and child HIV outcomes for young mothers and their children in Kampala Uganda and will aim at:
- Reduction of vertical transmission for children born to young mothers during pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding/lactation period;
- Improved treatment coverage, adherence and retention in care for young mothers living with HIV;
- Improved treatment coverage and outcomes for children living with HIV who have a young mother.
