Ekurhuleni celebrates reduced mother-to-child HIV infections

As the world celebrates World Aids Day on December 1, the City of Ekurhuleni reflects on the strides made in slowing down new HIV infections, particularly in the mother-to-child transmission thereof.

Ekurhuleni health practitioners have recorded a reduction of mother-to-child HIV transmission. The average HIV positive rate for babies tested around 10 weeks using the Polemerase Chain Reaction test is 0.6 per cent in the July 2019 to June 2020 financial year.

“The City is making great strides in slowing down the HIV transmission, with 13 233 babies tested for HIV in the previous financial year not more than 75 were found to be positive around 10 weeks,” said the MMC for Health and Social Services Nomadlozi Nkosi.

Nkosi applauded parents for protecting their little ones by adhering to their antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, as mother-to-child transmission of HIV may occur during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, during delivery or at any point during breastfeeding.

This year’s World Aids Day theme is “We are in this together, checka Impilo”. It is centred on the wellness campaign that challenges individuals to make responsible health choices. The City urges the community to make it a habit to check their HIV status for free at any of the city’s clinics.

Some of the initiatives by the City to prevent further spread of HIV include:

• Door-to-door education campaigns

• Distribution of condoms

• Educating communities and disseminating information on HIV and Aids

• Conducting community-based HIV Testing Services

• Referring and linking those in need of ARV treatment

• Diagnosis, management and treatment of opportunistic infections

• Counselling sessions to those infected or affected by HIV

• Access to Pelebox for collecting repeat medication outside the clinic