Rising HIV Infections Among Babies Despite PMTCT Efforts
The National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) has reported an increase in mother-to-child HIV infections, despite the implementation of the Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program. Dr. Stephen Ayisi-Addo, Programme Manager of NACP, attributed this rise to inadequate testing and non-adherence to medication by pregnant women, leading to the transmission of the virus to their babies.
At the 2023 dissemination of National HIV estimates, Dr. Ayisi-Addo voiced concerns about the ongoing infections of newborns, which are passed from mothers. The PMTCT program, a collaborative effort by NACP, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), and other partners, aims to prevent HIV transmission from mothers to their children. It mandates that pregnant women undergo HIV testing during antenatal care and receive medication if they test positive to protect their babies.
According to the National HIV estimates, 12,108 mothers aged 15 to 49 are currently receiving PMTCT treatment, while 13,445 mothers in the same age group require it. Dr. Ayisi-Addo noted that many of the infected babies were born to mothers who missed testing during antenatal care. "We aim to cover about 90 percent of all ANC attendees for HIV testing, but those who come in late do not receive the treatment needed to prevent transmission to their babies," he said.
He emphasized the need to improve ANC testing coverage and ensure that pregnant women receive supervised delivery and routine services. Dr. Ayisi-Addo also highlighted that some HIV-positive mothers fail to adhere to their medication regimen, contributing to the transmission. Currently, out of approximately 6,000 PMTCT facilities, only 730 provide antiretroviral treatment.
To address the gap, a new strategy aims to decentralize antiretroviral therapy across all centers, minimizing the need for pregnant women to travel to other facilities for treatment. Additionally, postnatal transmission is occurring due to breastfeeding practices. To counter this, strict infant feeding guidelines have been established for HIV-positive mothers, but some mothers struggle to adhere to these guidelines, increasing the risk of transmission.
Dr. Ayisi-Addo acknowledged that the reduced availability of trained service providers to educate mothers on proper feeding practices contributes to the ongoing transmission. "Our goal is to address these issues and improve strategic interventions to reduce mother-to-child transmission to at least 2 percent, which is the elimination target," he said.
Dr. Stephen Atuahene, Director General of the GAC, emphasized the importance of strict adherence to treatment to suppress the virus and prevent perinatal transmission. He stressed that HIV-positive women should achieve and maintain viral suppression before and during pregnancy to prevent transmitting the virus to their babies. "Adherence to treatment is crucial for all individuals living with HIV, especially mothers, to ensure the health of their babies and avoid any risk of infection," he concluded.
Source by www.ghanaweb.com
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