Uganda: HIV Policy Launched
TWELVE-year-old Anabel Asasira dreamt of finishing school, getting married and raising her own family one day.
The problem is; she contracted HIV/AIDS from her mother.
A solution to problems like hers was the cause of the gathering of health experts on Friday at Kabira Country Club in Kampala, to launch the revised Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV policy.
The new policy is a shot in the arm for Uganda's HIV infected mothers, as it brings a holistic approach that further reduces the risk of HIV transmission to the baby, while addressing HIV-related care needs of the mother and her family.
Under the policy, HIV-positive pregnant women and their families will be counselled and provided with appropriate HIV care, and their babies will be tested and offered follow-up care and support.
Health minister Dr. Stephen Malinga captured the gravity of the issue when he said 25,000 children per year risked Asasira's fate, if there is no timely intervention.
"The goal of PMTCT is to achieve a new generation free of HIV/AIDS. This is a great undertaking requiring the participation of all stakeholders.
"The majority of children acquire HIV through Mother-to-Child transmission. That is why the Government embraces all methods of PMTCT. Care and support for all HIV-positive mothers and their children will be a priority," he said.
He said strategies to address the emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of sufferers will equally be addressed through family support groups.
Present at the function was the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric Foundation country chief, William Salmond, Centre for Disease Control's Jordan Tappero, UNICEF's Dr. Richard Oketch and USAID mission chief Margot Ellis.
Health services director general Dr. Sam Zaramba said PMTCT was important in eliminating HIV transmission, adding that he would like mother-to-child transmission to end.
Uganda Aids commission's John Rwomushana said it is paradoxical that Uganda, which contributed to the formulation of PMTCT is lagging behind in its implementation.
Source: Cyprian Musoke and Fred Ouma, New Vision (Kampala), September 24, 2006
http://allafrica.com/stories/200609250469.html
The problem is; she contracted HIV/AIDS from her mother.
A solution to problems like hers was the cause of the gathering of health experts on Friday at Kabira Country Club in Kampala, to launch the revised Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV policy.
The new policy is a shot in the arm for Uganda's HIV infected mothers, as it brings a holistic approach that further reduces the risk of HIV transmission to the baby, while addressing HIV-related care needs of the mother and her family.
Under the policy, HIV-positive pregnant women and their families will be counselled and provided with appropriate HIV care, and their babies will be tested and offered follow-up care and support.
Health minister Dr. Stephen Malinga captured the gravity of the issue when he said 25,000 children per year risked Asasira's fate, if there is no timely intervention.
"The goal of PMTCT is to achieve a new generation free of HIV/AIDS. This is a great undertaking requiring the participation of all stakeholders.
"The majority of children acquire HIV through Mother-to-Child transmission. That is why the Government embraces all methods of PMTCT. Care and support for all HIV-positive mothers and their children will be a priority," he said.
He said strategies to address the emotional, psychological and spiritual needs of sufferers will equally be addressed through family support groups.
Present at the function was the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric Foundation country chief, William Salmond, Centre for Disease Control's Jordan Tappero, UNICEF's Dr. Richard Oketch and USAID mission chief Margot Ellis.
Health services director general Dr. Sam Zaramba said PMTCT was important in eliminating HIV transmission, adding that he would like mother-to-child transmission to end.
Uganda Aids commission's John Rwomushana said it is paradoxical that Uganda, which contributed to the formulation of PMTCT is lagging behind in its implementation.
Source: Cyprian Musoke and Fred Ouma, New Vision (Kampala), September 24, 2006
http://allafrica.com/stories/200609250469.html
posted by AIDS-Care-Watch at 11:48 am
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