The “Born Free to Shine” or “Free to Shine” campaign is an initiative of the African Union, the Organization of African First Ladies for Development, and partners to combat mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Africa, with the goal of ending pediatric HIV by 2030. This case study focuses on the implementation of the campaign in Angola and its impact by the end of 2021.
outlay:
The challenges faced by the “Born Free to Shine” campaign in Angola included the high rate of vertical transmission, limited access to health services, stigma and discrimination, lack of awareness, limited resources, cultural and social barriers, population mobility, lack of trained health professionals, and consistent supply of medicines in remote areas
Context:
Angola has a relatively low prevalence of HIV, estimated at 2%, compared to neighboring countries, such as Namibia and Zambia. However, the challenges in the coverage of health services and in the health system in general are still significant. Vertical transmission of HIV is an alarming problem, with an estimated rate of 21%, and only 4% of pregnant women with HIV received antiretroviral therapy (ART) at the end of 2016.
Campaign Implementation and Visibility:
The campaign was implemented in Angola focusing on awareness-raising and advocacy. The launch event took place in the province of Moxico in 2018 and was chaired by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço, on World AIDS Day, December 1st. The campaign held an awareness-raising workshop for 300 people in Luanda.
Impact:
By the end of 2021, the “Born Free to Shine” campaign had a significant impact:
1. The treatment of pregnant women with HIV/AIDS increased by 75%. This means that more pregnant women with HIV received treatment to prevent vertical transmission of the virus.
2. The vertical transmission rate of HIV is down 15% compared to the numbers from 2018 when the program launched. This indicates a substantial reduction in mother-to-child transmission of the virus.
3. The Organization of African First Ladies for Development reported that, in Angola and across Africa, significant gains were made in the response to HIV/AIDS for women and children. Since 2010, an estimated 1.5 million new HIV infections among children aged 0 to 14 have been prevented.
4. The proportion of pregnant women living with HIV who received antiretroviral treatment increased from 44% in 2010 to 84% in 2018.
5. Nine African countries, including Angola, achieved the coverage target of 95% of pregnant women with HIV receiving antiretroviral treatment in 2018.
Conclusion:
The “Born Free to Shine” campaign in Angola demonstrated a positive impact in reducing vertical transmission of HIV and improving the treatment of pregnant women with the virus. The partnership between governments, non-governmental organizations and health agencies, as well as the support of political leaders and public figures, played a fundamental role in the success of the campaign. The fight against pediatric HIV continues, but the results up to the end of 2021 indicate significant progress towards the goal of eliminating vertical transmission of the virus in Angola.