Health stakeholders have been challenged to strengthen aftercare support interventions for HIV-positive infants in a bid to scale up prophylaxis uptake to realise an HIV-free generation.
Speaking on Saturday during a stakeholders’ forum convened by the Kenya Council of Nurses, Kiambu Sub-County Medical Officer of Health Dr Daniel Wainaina said Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) guidelines supported HIV Testing and Counselling (HTC) for all expectant women attending Antenatal Clinics (ANC).
“Although the provision of basic PMTCT services has been expanded considerably in the sub-county, the efficiency and effectiveness of these interventions remain unknown due to inadequate data or inaccessible records,” said Dr Wainaina.
He said that whereas uptake of PMTCT services by pregnant women appears to be increasing, monitoring data showed that few HIV-infected mothers and HIV-exposed infants are accessing HIV treatment.
Commenting on limited data on uptake and effectiveness of PMTCT interventions, Dr Wainaina said assessing the quality of PMTCT services and identifying ways in which delivery of those services could be improved is essential to address maternal health needs and prevent mother to child transmission in the sub-county.
“Community-based counselling and testing, a critical tool to success of PMTCT, must be coupled with a linkage system that encourages HIV-positive women to enrol into care and ANC urgently,” said Dr Wainaina.
He added that follow-up in PMTCT also ensures administration of a short-course antiretroviral treatment to those identified as HIV positive and their exposed infants, provision of continuous post-test counselling and support for exclusive breastfeeding for six months.
The sub-county STI and AIDs Coordinator Rosemary Nzissi said shortage of PMTCT staff, shortages and interrupted supplies of materials and shortage of space for counselling were some of the reasons leading to loss of clients in PMTCT programme.
Nzissi, however, noted that accessible care during labour and delivery can facilitate successful PMTCT programming in the sub-county.