Speaking at a workshop under the theme, "New directions on HIV/AIDS" in Kasane last week, Thabisa Sibanda of BOTUSA, said the only worry that they have as medical practitioners is that "women who die because of HIV related conditions s leave young children". Currently 25 percent of all pregnant women are said to be HIV positive and on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). Dr Molly Smit, also from BOTUSA, reinforced Sibanda's explanation, saying women who are already on HAART at the time of their pregnancy have less than one percent chance of infecting their babies. However, the doctor emphasised that HIV women who decide to get pregnant must be in an excellent condition to protect their own health. While workshop attendants expressed discontent with the two doctors' statements saying they could lead to irresponsible behaviour, Smit explained that "every Motswana has sexual rights irrespective of their HIV status". She said denying HIV couples to have children would be denying them their fundamental rights.
However, the doctor cautioned that every right comes with responsibility. Smit added that HIV positive women who decide to have babies are assessed on-one-on-one occasions and recommendations made based on their condition. Smit also emphasised the importance of family planning irrespective of HIV status. She said the two surveys she conducted showed that 65 percent of pregnancies were unplanned while 35 percent were unwanted. There are in the world 200 documented cases of girls born with HIV who have grown to womanhood, and had babies themselves, the doctor said. Additionally, Smit explained that exclusive breastfeeding by HIV positive mothers is safe. Smit said HIV positive mothers who decide to breastfeed should not give babies any other food even water as this may cause their throat to scratch, thus exposing them to the virus. She explained that chances of the mother passing the virus through breast-feeding were less than two percent.
