MW reduces new HIV infections in children

Malawi and other six countries have been singled out by UNaids for a marked increase in progress for stopping new infections in children in Africa singling to have reduced new HIV infections among children by 50 percent since 2009. According to a report by UNaids released on Tuesday in Geneva, Switzerland, the Global Plan towards elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive (Global Plan) outlines that seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa— Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zambia—have reduced new HIV infections among children by 50 percent since 2009.

It says Malawi, with its policy of providing antiretroviral therapy (ART) to all pregnant and breastfeeding women (irrespective of CD4 count), increased the coverage of women from 13 percent in 2009 to 86 percent in 2012.

“Malawi has been able to increase antiretroviral therapy coverage during both pregnancy and the breastfeeding period by decentralising treatment services and offering lifelong HIV treatment to all pregnant and breastfeeding women as the central tenet of its national programme to stop the mother-to-child transmission of HIV,” reads part of the report.

The report says Malawi has demonstrated innovation by pioneering lifelong access to antiretroviral therapy for all pregnant women living with HIV, known as option B+. “The progress in the majority of countries is a strong signal that with focused efforts every child can be born free from HIV,” said Michel Sidibé, executive director of UNaids. Meanwhile, President Joyce Banda has met with Mark Dybul executive director of the Global Fund, Michel Sidibe executive director of UNaids, Eric Goosby, and Ambassador US Global Aids Coordinator at the conference on Aids.