Numbers of women on PMTCT increase in Kasese
By Wilson Asiimwe
in Kasese—-
Ever since scientists discovered that parents with HIV can produce HIV free
babies to most parents this has been a myth since some of the people living
with HIV give up on giving birth.
However for many women in Kasese the prevention of mother to child program
(PMTCT) has been a success as the number of women living with HIV giving
birth to HIV free babies is up.
According to Faith Kwebaze Makombo the coordinator of National Community of
Women living with HIV-Kasese (NACWOLA) most women have embraced the PMTCT
program and they are producing HIV free babies.
Makombo says that according to the records available at their offices out
of every 10 births under PMTCT program 8 are negative while two are
positive which implies that the program is performing very well.
The records show that out of the mothers who enrolled in PMCT in the last
four years, the number has increased by 100.
The indicator shows that in 2008/2009, only 1,237 were enrolled on ARV
prophylaxis out of the 3, 737 women who were tested HIV positive during
Antenatal Care visits.
In 2015/2016, a total of 373 were tested HIV positive but 166 were put on
the ARV prophylaxis which counts for over 67 percent.
Meanwhile in 2010/2011 and 2011/2012, a total of 5, 403 mothers were tested
HIV positive but only 3, 782 are reported to be on ARV prophylaxis.
Addressing the media recently the Kasese district health educator Samuel
Kasimba said that the PMTCT program is one of the best performing programs
in the control of HIV among the unborn and newly born babies.
Kasimba however noted that they still have some challenges which don’t have
accredited health facilities to offer antiretroviral services.
He said that the Sub Counties of Kisinga, Bwera, Bwesumbu, Isango and
Buhuhira are the most affected.
Rehema Aryema a board member of NACWOLA says that some pregnant women fear
to go health centers because of stigmatization by health workers.
“I gave birth to my child 8 years back but I have realized that there are
some health workers who still stigmatize people living with HIV and because
of that others opt out of health centers,” says Aryema.
The new World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on administering
antiretroviral treatment are attributed to the increase in the Uganda’s
burden of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS.
The World health Organization (WHO) in its new guidelines, released in
2009, recommend that HIV positive people should be started on ARVs at
immunity levels of 350 cells in every cubic milliliter of blood (CD4
count), rather than at 200, that has been the general global standard. The
new guidelines where based on new research which shows that the earlier
people living with HIV start taking ARVs, the longer they live. Pregnant
mothers living with HIV may also have to start taking ARVs at 14 weeks of
pregnancy. But mothers in Uganda before the guidelines were started on
ARVs, between 28 and 32 weeks.
Aryema, says that the burden of giving pregnant mothers ARVs to prevent
infection of their unborn babies becomes higher, because it involves a
higher treatment
According to the Aids Control Program, there are about 91,000 pregnant
women living with HIV in Uganda every year. About 60 percent of these
qualify for antiretroviral treatment.
In 2008, ARVs for pregnant mothers living with HIV were changed from just
Nevirapine syrup, to a combination of drugs in order to deal with
resistance to treatment.
According to the Uganda Aids Commission, about 350, 000 more are in need of
treatment.
A recent AIDS survey indicator shows that only half of the estimated
150,000 children infected with HIV in Uganda are receiving care, the other
half lacks vital HIV/AIDS care and less are receiving Anti Retroviral
Treatment (ART).
The survey also indicates that Ugandan children currently constitute 16% of
new infections, while HIV prevalence in mothers is 7.5% meaning that babies
born to these mothers are exposed to HIV
In 2012 a new policy to scale up the Prevention of Mother to Child HIV
Transmission-PMTCT in the country was unveiled by Ministry of health.
The Option B+ policy which was unveiled in 2012 during the 6th Annual
National Pediatric Conference in Kampala is one of the policies recommended
by the World Health Organization-WHO. Unlike Option A and B, in Option B+,
a mother is automatically placed on ARV within 14 weeks of her pregnancy
once she tests HIV positive.
Previously, expectant mothers were only enrolled for ARV treatment after
determining their CD4 count or going through clinical staging. It is hoped
that once the program is rolled out in health facilities across the country
that have been implementing options A and B, it will scale up PMTCT and
reduce HIV/Aids prevalence amongst minors.
Dr. Joseph Mugabi a senior medical consultant explains that Option B+ ARV
regiment gives HIV positive mothers an alternative to nurse their babies
with a reduced risk of Mother to Child Transmission.
A recent AIDS survey indicator shows that only half of the estimated
150,000 children infected with HIV in Uganda are receiving care, the next
half lack vital HIV/AIDS care and less are receiving Anti Retroviral
Treatment (ART). The survey also indicates that Uganda children currently
constitute 16% of new infections, while HIV prevalence in mothers is 7.5%
meaning that babies born to these mothers are exposed to HIV.
Mugabi appeals to all parties involved in the fight against HIV to work
together and stabilize the management of the epidemic particularly within
families.
Mugabi also suggests that to effectively eliminate Mother to Child HIV
transmission, there is need to improve reproductive health among women,
eliminate social and cultural practices that create stigma around HIV/AIDS
and adoption of practical family planning methods
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