Hope in Every Newborn Cry: Advancing an HIV-Free Generation in Simiyu

Hope in Every Newborn Cry: Advancing an HIV-Free Generation in Simiyu

In a quiet maternity ward in Bariadi District, Dr. Pilly Mussa Shingoma watches over her patients with a sense of calm assurance. As the in-charge at the Care and Treatment Centre (CTC) of Somanda Hospital, she has walked alongside many women living with HIV through uncertainty, through pregnancy, and finally, through the moment of holding an HIV free baby in their arms.

“This is the part of my job that fills me with the most joy,” Dr. Pilly shares. “Seeing mothers thrive, knowing their babies were born without HIV it’s a kind of success that’s hard to describe.”

In Simiyu Region, like in many parts of Tanzania, Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) services are a vital lifeline. They ensure that women and adolescent girls living with HIV have the support, counseling, and clinical care they need to protect their children and manage their own health with dignity.

Since early 2024, Dr. Pilly and her team have deepened their focus on early infant diagnosis especially the timely collection of Dried Blood Spot (DBS) samples used to test newborns for HIV. For her, confidentiality isn’t just a principle; it’s a daily practice that builds trust and makes the work possible.

“I constantly remind my team that confidentiality is not optional,” she says. “It creates the safety mothers need to return, to ask questions, and to follow treatment plans without fear.”

That trust is paying off.

Between January and March, 14 women living with HIV gave birth at Bariadi District Hospital all their babies tested HIV-free. In the following April to June quarter, another 6 HIV-free births were recorded. Each one represents not just the success of a program, but the beginning of a healthy life and the triumph of hope over fear.

What made the difference? Beyond the clinical care, Dr. Pilly credits ongoing training and mentorship especially in managing DBS and engaging adolescents with compassion and understanding.

“Most of our young mothers are scared. Some have experienced stigma, some don’t know what to expect. But once they realize they’re not alone, they become incredibly strong.”

She believes that with consistent investment in training, respectful care, and community support, even more families will be able to welcome HIV-free children into the world.

These successes were supported through the Afya Kamilifu project, a five-year initiative funded by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Tanzania. The project was implemented by Amref Health Africa in Tanzania, in collaboration with the University of Maryland Baltimore (now CIHEB) and the Tanzania Communication and Development Center (TCDC), and in partnership with the Ministry of Health, the Zanzibar Ministry of Health, and the President’s Office – Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG).