Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT)

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) is a major means of contracting HIV in children. In 2001, the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS committed countries to reduce the proportion of infants infected with HIV by 20% by 2005 and by 50% by 2010 (1). Although the goal is far from being realized, efforts are being made by civic societies and faith-based organizations to work together with different governments in the realization of this World Health Organization (WHO) initiative. This integrated and focused approach consists of interventions focusing on primary prevention of HIV infection among women; prevention of transmission of HIV to the baby during pregnancy; and the provision of treatment, care and support for women living with HIV/AIDS, their children and families.

DAHP works with pregnant women through partners such as the Baptist AIDS Awareness and Prevention Program in the Baptist Medical Center, Ogbomoso, Oyo State in South-West, Nigeria.

Intervention measures will include:

• Drug treatment in the last trimester of pregnancy
• Caesarean section
• Treatment of the child up to 2 years after birth
• Sustained treatment of the mothers using anti-retro-viral therapy (ART).