Knitting to help HIV kids

SLIP NOT: Onerahi woman Anne Hohmann says she was happy to help knit for Unicef’s Unite for Mothers campaign.

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A lack of advanced knitting skills did not stop a Whangarei woman from helping contribute to blankets for needy children in Papua New Guinea.

Anne Hohmann from Onerahi joined hundreds from around the country to contribute to Unicef New Zealand’s Unite for Mothers campaign.

She knitted three squares which were joined with 2800 others to make colourful blankets for young patients at Port Moresby General Hospital.

As well as making the 80 blankets, the Unite for Mothers campaign raises awareness about the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

Anne says she got involved because it sounded like fun and she thought it was important to raise awareness of the HIV problem in the Pacific.

"It’s quite amazing how many children are dying from HIV/AIDS transmitted from their mothers," she says.

The campaign originally wanted 1400 squares, because 1400 children under 15 die of AIDS-related illnesses each day, she says.

But the support was so great that Unicef ended up with twice as many squares.

Anne says she doesn’t usually knit but felt she was up to the simple task of knitting a 20cm square using straight stitch.

"It was just nice to be able to do something tangible," she says.

Anne, who is originally from Canada, says sailing in the Pacific increased her empathy for Pacific people and she believes New Zealanders feel the same way.

Sister Betty Pandum, a head nurse at Port Moresby General Hospital’s paediatric ward, says there are significant challenges around the stigma of HIV and AIDS.

Women are particularly vulnerable to rejection from their families if found to be HIV-positive, she says, leading to many remaining undiagnosed or not telling their family.

To stop the spread of the disease the hospital has four counsellors to deal with HIV and AIDS-related issues.

It offers immunisation programmes and advises new mothers on breast feeding.

The use of anti-retroviral drugs and other interventions can also stop the mother-to-child infection of HIV.

- © Fairfax NZ News