9 out of 10 children born to HIV-positive mothers in Gauteng do not have HIV
"The prevention of mother-to-child-transmission programme has achieved a reduction in the percentage of children who are HIV infected," Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu said.
"In 2008 the rate (of mother-to-child transmissions) ranged from 8 to 10,6 percent, and this was reduced to a rate of 5,1 percent to 7,2 percent in 2009. This means that nine out of ten children born to HIV-positive mothers do not have HIV."
From April this year HIV-positive pregnant mothers qualified to be on the programme at 14 weeks of pregnancy, instead of 28 weeks, and all women with a CD4 count of 350 or less, or with Aids-defining symptoms, qualified for antiretroviral therapy.
"An additional 17,508 people were enrolled in the antiretroviral component of our comprehensive HIV and Aids treatment and care programme in the first quarter of this financial year."
The department aimed to reduce new HIV infections by 50 percent by next year.
In April the department launched an HIV counselling and testing campaign and had since tested 502 882 people.
It aims to reach 1,5 million people and will take the campaign to hostels, public transport hubs and shopping malls in the coming months.
More babies HIV-negative
9 out of 10 children born to HIV-positive mothers in Gauteng do not have HIV
"The prevention of mother-to-child-transmission programme has achieved a reduction in the percentage of children who are HIV infected," Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu said.
"In 2008 the rate (of mother-to-child transmissions) ranged from 8 to 10,6 percent, and this was reduced to a rate of 5,1 percent to 7,2 percent in 2009. This means that nine out of ten children born to HIV-positive mothers do not have HIV."
From April this year HIV-positive pregnant mothers qualified to be on the programme at 14 weeks of pregnancy, instead of 28 weeks, and all women with a CD4 count of 350 or less, or with Aids-defining symptoms, qualified for antiretroviral therapy.
"An additional 17,508 people were enrolled in the antiretroviral component of our comprehensive HIV and Aids treatment and care programme in the first quarter of this financial year."
The department aimed to reduce new HIV infections by 50 percent by next year.
In April the department launched an HIV counselling and testing campaign and had since tested 502 882 people.
It aims to reach 1,5 million people and will take the campaign to hostels, public transport hubs and shopping malls in the coming months.
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