Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission (eMTCT)

The Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health (MCDMCH) have launched new guidelines on the diagnosis of HIV, the care of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and the use of Anti-retroviral medicines for treating and preventing HIV infections. These include new guidelines for women, their partners and children with the objective ‘of simplifying access and the delivery of this life saving service. The emphasis on initiating HIV treatment early as well as simplifying and harmonizing treatment regimens among various populations and implementing new eligibility criteria will increase coverage of HIV positive women and also increase the number of children receiving HIV treatment, consequently this will reduce new transmissions of HIV, improve mothers health and reduce maternal and child health. 

The national strategy is responding to findings in areas that require strengthening. In particular, support for addressing prongs 1 and 2 and also for Option B+ roll out is required. This places all HIV positive mothers on ART for life, safeguarding their health, present and future pregnancies and breastfeeding babies. It acts as long-term “treatment as prevention” (TasP) with pregnancy as the entry point and will contribute significantly to keeping mothers and children alive.