Without intervention, HIV can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. This “vertical transmission” affects 15–35% of children born to HIV-positive mothers. Yet with effective antiretroviral therapy, proper antenatal care, and safe infant feeding, transmission rates can be reduced to below 5%. Every HIV-free birth is both a medical achievement and a powerful step toward breaking the cycle of HIV in families and communities.

Power of Love integrates the prevention of mother-to-child transmission directly into our Pediatric HIV Care program. When a pregnant woman is identified as the primary caregiver of a child in our program, she is automatically enrolled. From the second trimester onward, community health workers and nurses provide:

• Counseling on adherence to HIV medication and safe delivery practices.
• Regular home visits and intensified monitoring as delivery approaches.
• Referrals and accompaniment to antenatal clinics when needed.
• Postnatal support, including infant HIV testing and prophylaxis.

This holistic, family-centered approach ensures that both mother and baby receive continuous care.

Our results demonstrate what is possible with consistent education, medication support, and community trust:

• Between 2011–2020, 100% of children born to HIV-positive mothers in our program were HIV-free.
• Since inception of the program in 2011, only one child has tested positive.
• Today, more than 450 HIV-positive children in our care benefit from having caregivers supported to ensure safe pregnancies and HIV-free births. These successes ripple outward: as mothers learn, they encourage peers to get tested and adhere to treatment, multiplying the impact of prevention.

Today, more than 450 HIV-positive children in our care benefit from having caregivers supported to ensure safe pregnancies and HIV-free births. These successes ripple outward: as mothers learn, they encourage peers to get tested and adhere to treatment, multiplying the impact of prevention.

The program does more than prevent HIV—it strengthens maternal knowledge, confidence, and agency. Women become advocates in their neighborhoods, reducing stigma and increasing uptake of HIV testing and care. Healthy mothers raise healthier families, and empowered women extend protection beyond their own households.

Our goal remains bold but achievable: zero HIV infections among children born to HIV-positive mothers. We will:

• Expand outreach to identify and enroll every eligible pregnant woman.
• Deepen community education on treatment adherence and safe infant feeding.
• Strengthen linkages with maternal health programs to provide seamless support.

This program succeeds because it blends proven science with trusted community care:

• Evidence-based interventions (ART for mothers, prophylaxis for infants).
• Home visits and accompaniment by local health workers who families know.
• Integration into the broader Circle of Care—linking HIV prevention with maternal health, nutrition, and economic empowerment.

Every HIV-free birth is a victory not only for one child, but for the entire community.

Testimonials from POL Microloan recepients