HIV transmission minimum rate
However, she said Eswatini had beaten this target and that the country was now at 1.3 per cent.
During her presentation, she revealed that PMTCT services HIV testing, provision of ART and Early Infant Diagnosis of HIV.
She said when the PMTCT programme started, the aim was to attain a transmission
achievement solidified Eswatini’s position as a regional leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS, with 98.7 per cent of HIV-exposed babies in the country being born HIV-free.
Okello then emphasised that this achievement was not merely a statistic but represented hope for Eswatini and the world. Adding, she said countless lives had been saved, families protected and a brighter future ensured for generations to come.
Partnerships
She urged everyone to remember the lessons learned and the partnerships forged during this journey.
Further, she said collaboration, innovation, and adaptability will be crucial in addressing emerging challenges.
“The ultimate goal is to rate of five per cent.
She said WHO’s elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) guidance outlines three tiers of progress towards EMTCT (bronze, silver, and gold).
Each tier recognises progressive improvements in antenatal care coverage, HIV and syphilis testing, and treatment of pregnant women, as well as progressive declines in infant case rates.
An illustraton showing the background PMTCT response in Eswatini.
ensure that every child in Eswatini is born HIV-free and thrives in a healthy and supportive environment, leading to the elimination of pediatric HIV, congenital syphilis, and hepatitis in the country,” she stated.
Okello extended special thanks to UNICEF for their financial and technical support during the two-year survey.
Achievement
While celebrating this historic achievement, Dr Okello urged everyone to remember the responsibility that accompanies it.
She called for a commitment to build on this success and continue the fight towards a future free from HIV/AIDS, Congenital Syphilis, and Hepatitis B, where every child has the opportunity to live a healthy and
fulfilling life. The method used during the survey
A prospective cohort design of HIV-positive and negative mothers and their babies was enrolled in the study and followed up for a maximum of 24 months.
Recruitment
The study was conducted in 51 health facilities from all four regions of the Kingdom of Eswatini including private facilities.
Study recruitment was aligned to the first dose of Diphtheria, Pertussis and Tetanus (DPT1) immunisation – which has a high coverage and ensured that we avoid including infants more than once.
● Only include mothers who consented
● An electronic tool linked to CMIS was used to collect data.