Makueni celebrates success of keeping babies HIV-Free
With smiles on their faces, a group of mothers from Makueni are celebrating the graduation of their children, not the ordinary graduation but all the 40 children are HIV-free born by HIV positive mothers.
Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr accompanied by Dr. Jennifer Galbraith, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)- Kenya Director for the Division of Global HIV and TB on Tuesday launched the county’s HIV transition roadmap – a key sustainability pillar for HIV programming as well as leading in the celebrations.
The support from the U.S. CDC and Makueni County is helping to eliminate pediatric HIV by 2027.
Governor Mutula termed stopping the transmission of HIV from mother to child as critical adding that no infant or young child should acquire HIV when there are universally accessible medicines to prevent such from happening.
However, he assured the County will revamp HIV awareness campaigns challenging men to take a central role in ensuring they get tested.
He praised the mothers for taking their antiretroviral medicine consistently and correctly, hence keeping their infants HIV-free during pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding period.
Dr. Jennifer said due to the continued support in the County, HIV viral suppression stands at 96% saying if maintained then there will be reduced HIV transmission.
