Mother to child HIV transmission still rampant- Baylor Uganda
Although a cure to HIV/Aids has not been found Paediatric HIV Specialists maintain that elimination of mother to child transmission of the virus is still the best option.
The Baylor Medical College of Medicine, which specializes in Paediatric HIV records that 26,000 children tested in Uganda, were found to be infected with HIV from their mothers.
Paul Mayende Head of Communications at said these children can be saved through Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART).
Mayende maintains that Prevention of Mother to Child HIV Transmission (PMTCT) remains important in avoiding new infections.
However, a recent case of a possible cure for HIV in an American toddler has sparked some excitement.
In accordance to findings presented at the Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI) in Atlanta last week, the child was born with HIV infection and treated with antiretroviral drugs in the first days.
Lead Paediatric HIV experts in the case informed that the child has no longer detectable levels of virus, after testing despite not taking HIV medication for 10 months.
In an interview with the press on the subject, Dr, Richard Oketch UNICEF HIV/Aids Specialist said that although the news is welcomed, there is need for further investigations in the case.
Commenting on the matter Mayende also shared similar sentiments.
While Charles Lyons CEO Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric Aids Foundation, said the case was still preliminary but could inform focused research in Paediatric HI.
In September last year, the Option B plus strategy to manage HIV infections in pregnant mothers and children was launched September last year in Uganda.
However, HIV positive mothers using Option B Plus still experience challenges when it comes to adherence to medication .The experts explained.
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