"My name is:" On Mother's Day two mothers share their stories

This Mother's Day you have the opportunity to help 65 mothers and mothers-to-be take the first step to protect their own health and the health of their babies. A healthy mom = a healthy child. By purchasing a UNICEF HIV Test Kit Inspired Gift you will empower mothers to get tested for their status and receive the lifesaving medication and support to stop the transmission of the HIV virus to their baby. Your loved one will receive an eCard announcing your gift in their honor and 65 mothers in need will get the gift of health.

UNICEF Inspired Gifts are actual lifesaving UNICEF products that are delivered to mothers and children. With your purchase of a UNICEF HIV Test Kit Inspired Gift you will be helping mothers like Ntsiuoa and Mathato in 150 countries around the world.

Gideon Mendel/Lesotho/UNICEF UK

Ntsiuoa Ralefifi at a Mothers 2 Mothers support group in Mafeteng hospital, Lesotho.

My name is Ntsiuoa Ralefifi, I am 29 years old. I live at Harom Hapi, in Lesotho. I found out my HIV status last year, in November when I was pregnant. It was painful, too painful. When I had my CD4 count taken, you will never believe what I'm telling you, but it was 41. I cried so much. I cried because I was afraid that I was going to die, together with my child. I had to start treatment and even now I am taking it. Now my CD 4 count is going up, I am getting better. I am happy seeing that it is going up and I am going to live with my child. I am happy again because my child has been born without this disease. She's HIV-negative. When the baby was born, after the birth, they gave her drops of Nevirapine. They told me that Nevirapine would help my child not to get this disease, so it was important to me to see that they gave her Nevirapine. At the hospital we have a support group. There are some women in the group who are pregnant and some who have babies. Some of the babies are negative, some are positive. Matakhane, my friend, works at the support group. She always supports me about my status. She always says "Ntsioua, you have to tell yourself that you are living with HIV, and that should not worry you. Tell yourself that HIV will not kill you." My baby's name is Ntatisi, which is the name of a Princess. I want her to grow up very well, to attend school, and I want her to live a better life.

Gideon Mendel/Lesotho/UNICEF UK

Mathato Notsi with her baby, Mpho.

My name is Mathato Notsi, I'm from Tsita's Nek Ha Motumi, Lesotho. I'm 29 years old. I have 4 children, I'm married, my husband lives in Johannesburg with his mother. I was afraid of testing because of all the things people were saying about AIDS. It was said to be this horrible disease which only the promiscuous would get, and all those other things which have been said about AIDS, I just couldn't bring myself to be tested. Maybe if I'd had enough courage to test when I was pregnant I would have not infected my child. In February this year I took my child for the 6 weeks after birth examination, that's when I discovered that I was HIV-positive, and so was the child. Initially it was a great shock but after talking to the nurses at the dispensary I came to terms with it, but it wasn't a good feeling for a very long time. I wish my child could be well like other children, not always be sickly, and live a normal life like all the others. I always feel so sorry for him and as a result he is very close to my heart and I love him a lot.

To purchase your Mother's Day UNICEF Inspired Gift visit inspiredgifts.org.