The Mother to Child Transmission (MTCT) rate for HIV has declined since 2005 from 20.9% to 2.1% in 2011. In KwaZulu-Natal the HIV Sero-Prevalence is at 39.5% compared to the National figure of 30.2% according to the 2010 National ANC Sentinel HIV & Syphilis Prevalence Survey. In South Africa there are 5 districts with HIV prevalence of 40% and all of these are in KZN.
Members of the media are invited as the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal and MEC for Health, Dr Zweli Mkhize and Sibongiseni Dhlomo respectively, recognise and express gratitude to healthcare workers for making the goal of ‘Towards the elimination of new HIV Infections amongst children and keeping their mothers alive’ attainable.
The details of the event are as follows:
Date: 4 September 2012, Tuesday
Time: 10h00
Venue: Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital, Nurses Home Hall
The transmission of HIV from an HIV-positive mother to her child during pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding is called mother-to-child transmission. In the absence of any interventions transmission rates range from 15 to 45%. This rate can be reduced to levels below 5% with effective interventions. Through hard work of healthcare professional in KwaZulu-Natal, Mother to Child Transmission of HIV has been reduced to a low 2.1% (2.9% in 2010 and higher in previous years).
Government has committed itself to accelerate progress for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) through an initiative with the goal to eliminate new paediatric HIV infections by 2015 and improve maternal, new-born and child survival and health in the context of HIV.
More details on the impact of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programme will be given.
