University of Michigan graduate and Fulbright Scholar Eméfah Loccoh spent a year in Togo studying facilitating factors in preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. The recently published study, entitled Patient-Reported Factors Facilitating Participation in Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Programs in Kara, Togo, West Africa, includes Hope Through Health patients.
“The work [of preventing mother-to-child transmission] is so hard…what makes Hope Through Health successful is its ability to create a community out of individual patients,” said Ms. Loccoh. Despite widespread stigma, Hope Through Health creates a welcoming environment for people living with HIV/AIDS by engaging the HIV community in all steps of the process, including employing them as staff. Over half of Hope Through Health staff members are HIV-positive. “Being able to receive continuous support from both compassionate clinicians and peers in the HIV community really encourages women to follow all of the treatment guidelines. Hope Through Health is making a big difference,” remarked Ms. Loccoh.
Hope Through Health is proud of its collaboration with Eméfah. We encourage you to read the paper and share with your friends!