More than 90% of babies born to HIV positive mothers in Gauteng public health facilities between April and June 2010 were saved from the virus.
The babies whose mothers were on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) were tested six weeks after birth and 91% of them tested HIV negative.
In order to eliminate the transmission of HIV from mother to child, the province is calling on all pregnant women to go for anti-natal visits as soon as they suspect that they are pregnant so they can do all the necessary tests on time and be put on treatment if necessary.
With the new antiretroviral (ARV) guidelines that were implemented in all public health facilities in Gauteng offering anti-natal care services since April this year, the province hopes to further reduce the mother to child transmission rate.
The new guidelines say antiretroviral prophylaxis is given at 14 weeks of pregnancy for those women who have a CD4 count above 350 whilst those with a CD4 count of 350 and below are eligible for treatment.
Gauteng Health and Social Development MEC Qedani Mahlangu says, “The department’s aim is that no child should be born HIV positive in Gauteng by the end of this financial year. In order to achieve this, we urge mothers who suspect that they might be pregnant to present themselves early at anti-natal clinics and take the HIV test.”
Enquiries:
Mandla Sidu
Cell: 082 773 9013
Simon Zwane
Cell: 082 551 9892
