NEW MUMS WITH HIV SET TO BE GIVEN FORMULA MILK

From January 2019 all HIV positive mums living in Manchester will receive a year’s supply of formula milk along with bottles and sterilising equipment.

Steph Mallas, George House Trust CEO, said

“We are delighted to have worked with Manchester City Council to help make free formula milk for HIV positive mums in the city a reality. This is a significant and welcome initiative which removes the risk of HIV transmission through breast feeding and is another step in the direction of our shared goal of ending HIV in a generation.”

Guidelines advise that HIV positive mothers do not breast feed because of the potential risk of HIV transmission.

The scheme will be funded by Manchester City Council Population Health and is a result of collaborative working between them and George House Trust who will administer the scheme.

Councillor Bev Craig, Executive Member for Adult Health and Wellbeing at Manchester City Council, said:

“This move is all helping to give babies and their Mums the very best start in their life together to that both can stay fit and well during those really special and bonding months.”

We are delighted that our work with Manchester City Council has brought about such a result and we will now begin work with the other boroughs to ensure that every HIV positive mum, no matter where they live in Greater Manchester, has access to free formula milk.