H Metro

5k PREGNANT MOTHERS TEST POSITIVE FOR HIV THIS YEAR

- Talent Gore

MORE than 5 000 pregnant mothers, between the ages of 15 and 34 years tested positive for HIV this year.

A prevention of mother-to-child transmissi­on (PMTCT) and paediatric HIV care and treatment coordinato­r in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Precious Andifasi, has revealed.

The alarming statistics come at a time the country is fighting to reduce mother-to-child transmissi­on of HIV and syphilis, which currently stands at over eight percent.

Between January and June, a total of 6 333 pregnant women were diagnosed with HIV, during antenatal care visits, and they risk infecting their unborn babies if treatment is not initiated early.

During the same period, 2 225 pregnant women also tested positive for syphilis.

Untreated syphilis may lead to stillbirth­s. Dr Andifasi said there was need to address gender inequaliti­es which places women and young girls at a higher risk of infection.

“Women often lack freedom of choice. “While they may be aware of what to do to protect themselves, they are unable to take precaution­s because of powerlessn­ess, economic dependence on their partners and fear of violence,” she said.

“They may also feel that it is simply their duty to please their man, even to the detriment of their own well-being.”

Dr Andifasi said reversing rising HIV infection rates in women will require addressing fundamenta­l issues concerning how men and women relate to one another, as well as improving male involvemen­t in antenatal care. “Women who become infected during pregnancy and breastfeed­ing have a higher risk of transmitti­ng HIV to their babies compared to women who are infected with HIV before becoming pregnant,” she said.

She challenged the media to encourage the nation to test for HIV and promote male engagement in antenatal care.

“The media has a critical role to play in disseminat­ing accurate informatio­n as the country fights to reduce HIV and syphilis infections in mothers.

“As a Ministry, we are scaling up prevention strategies for women testing HIV negative, including provision of Pre-exposure prophylaxi­s for those at high risk of Seroconver­sion.”

NAC chief executive officer, Bernard Madzima, said the media had potential to help the country’s

HIV response through utilising contempora­ry methods of sharing and disseminat­ing critical informatio­n on HIV and Aids.

“We must capitalise on the ubiquitous nature of social media as well to reach our audiences on the spot,” Madzima said.

 ?? ?? Dr Precious Andifasi
Dr Precious Andifasi

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