It looks like a kindergarten, but this is Bernadino Paediatric Hospital in Luanda, where an old train carriage is home to a happy playgroup, led by educational therapists.

Therapist Frangueira Bernadino António said: "We use their innocence and their play to create pedagogic activity."

The children play while they wait to see a doctor. Some, but not all of them are HIV positive.Some of mothers are positive too, and they value the support the hospital gives their children.

A mother Emilia Lay said:?"It helps me a lot, to be able to care for her."

The hospital plays a lead role in Angola's health service, which is introducing support goups where mothers get advice about child health and HIV from doctors specializing in paediatric AIDS. Now, in Angola, children with HIV have a future.

Doctor Elisete de Assunc?o Fernandes Jo?o said: "A healthy child that can play may have HIV, but the child isn't sick. It can live a normal life like other children."

One of many mothers there finds the support group gives her strength. Emilia Lay said:?"It helps. Other people talk about their experience - give testimonies. You are not alone. It gives you strength."

At Bernadino's and other Angolan hospitals, HIV positive mothers can reduce the risk of infection for their children during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding, thanks to free anti-retroviral therapy.

UNICEF is supporting the Angolan government with innovative programmes as it rebuilds health services, including the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, and better paediatric care throughout the country.

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