Swaziland: MSF rolls out innovative medical approach to prevent mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission

Since February 2013, an innovative approach, commonly referred to as PMTCT B+ (prevention of mother-to-child transmission, option B+), is being rolled out by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and the Ministry of Health in the Nhlangano area, in the south of the country. It aims to place 2,000 HIV-positive pregnant women on treatment over the next four years, as soon as possible after their diagnosis. So far, more than 200 women have joined the programme. 2013 Swaziland © Yasuhiko Okuno/MSFA MSF Community Testing Counsellor explains what is HIV, how it is transmitted, and how it is prevented. “In Swaziland, the prevalence of HIV/AIDS among pregnant women, which currently is close to 40 per cent, is extremely worrying. Without treatment, 25 to 40 per cent of the children born to HIV-positive mothers will also be infected,” explains Dr Serge Kabore, MSF’s medical coordinator in Swaziland. “The aim of this new PMTCT B+ approach is to place all pregnant and breastfeeding women who have the virus on lifelong antiretroviral treatment, whatever their CD4 count. That will prevent mother-to-child HIV/AIDS transmission, while also keeping the mothers in good health, protecting any future babies they may have and protecting HIV-negative partners.” In other approaches to fighting AIDS, a patient’s CD4 count determines whether he or she should be put on antiretroviral (ARV) treatment. After years of advocacy by different health actors, including M...
Source: MSF News - Category: Global & Universal Tags: Swaziland HIV / AIDS NEWS Source Type: news