HIV Positive Mum Who Gave Birth To A Healthy Baby Boy Shares Her Story To Inspire Others
Paida Mutopo, a 20-year-old student, contracted HIV from her mother, Mavis, who had no idea she had the virus until her daughter was diagnosed.
Paida, from Rochdale, Manchester was told she was HIV-positive when she was just 11 and believed she would never be able to have children for fear of passing on the virus.
However, advances in treatment mean the amount of the virus in her system is now undetectable – and she can lead a normal, healthy life. She was also able to take medication to reduce the risk of passing on the virus to her children, Dailymail gathered.
Despite carrying the potentially fatal virus, Paida gave birth to a bouncing baby boy, Kai, five months ago. Tests have confirmed that Kai is HIV free, and the proud mother is now out to inspire others living with the disease that HIV is no longer a death sentence – or even a barrier to becoming a parent.
She said:
”When I found out I was pregnant I was so scared and at the same time I was so excited. When I found out I was HIV positive, I never thought I was going to have a child and that was something I wanted in my life.
If he had been positive I would have felt so bad, I would have just blamed myself.
I don’t think I would have been able to live with myself if I had found out he was HIV positive.”
Advances in HIV medication also mean that Paida only has to take three tablets a day.
Reports also shows that in the UK, transmission of HIV from mother to child is almost entirely preventable through screening, and careful management during pregnancy. In addition, appropriate antiretroviral therapy, management of how the baby is delivered and avoiding breastfeeding reduces the risk of transmission.
The bold young lady has now set her sights on going to University to study social work to help build a bright future for her and her son.
She also uses public speaking engagements and does Q&As on social media platforms like Facebook and Snapchat to challenge the stigmatisation of HIV patients.
”I want to one day wake up and know there is no more stigma surrounding HIV and I was the cause of that, for the stigma to go, that is my dream so I hope one day I will achieve it,” she said.
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Photo credit: Barcroft Images/ITV/Jeremy Kyle
Eliminating HIV stigmatization is a gradual process. We’ll one day get there
The stigma is no longer what it used to be back in the day when HIV was a big deal.
People no longer discriminate HIV patients like before. Thank God for science and technology. Congratulations to her on her baby’s arrival.
Great
thank God for her