Maimouna Dieng, focal point for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) in Kaolack (west), revealed last Friday that the HIV/AIDS positivity rate among children born to HIV-positive mothers in the region is estimated at 2 .7%.
“The latest survey, carried out in December 2023, shows a positivity rate of 2.7% among children born to HIV-positive mothers,” she declared during a presentation organized as part of a press caravan in Kaolack and Kolda. This event was initiated by the Association of Journalists in Health, Population and Development (AJSPD) in partnership with the National AIDS Council (CNLS).
Ms Dieng explained that early detection plays a crucial role in combating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. “If a woman is confirmed HIV positive before pregnancy, she is included in the cohort of HIV positive pregnancies. Screening is also systematic during pregnancy,” she explained to APS.
She added that statistics show that 50% of women get tested before becoming pregnant, while 48% do so during pregnancy, reflecting early detection in the region. “More than 98% of targeted women were screened, either before or during pregnancy. This significantly minimizes the risk of transmission to children,” Ms. Dieng emphasized.
The manager also insisted on the importance of antiretroviral treatment to reduce the risk of transmission: “When a pregnant woman starts this treatment, the risk of transmission to the newborn is significantly reduced. »
To strengthen this support, Ms. Dieng highlighted ongoing efforts in the region: “Every three months, we provide monitoring in the four health districts and at the hospital. This monitoring concerns the availability of medications, the status of products, as well as the updating of care models. »
This systematic and proactive approach explains, according to her, the low positivity rate recorded among children born from HIV-positive pregnancies in the region.
Senegal
