African leaders must commit funds to addressing mother-to-child HIV transmission – UNAIDS Dep. Exec. Director

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV remains a pressing concern in Africa, with many countries still recording new cases. Despite progress, the lack of early intervention is taking a toll on children, with many suffering from the consequences.

According to UNAIDS, of the 40.8 million people living with HIV worldwide in 2024, 2.42 million were children aged 0–19. Each day in 2024, about 712 children became infected, and 250 children died from AIDS-related causes most due to inadequate access to prevention, care, and treatment.

In Ghana, mother to child transmission is the second leading means of HIV transmission and accounts for nearly all cases in children under 15, highlighting the urgency of targeted measures. And the picture is not different in other African countries.

On the sidelines of the International conference on HIV/AIDS and STI’s in Africa, experts outlined the limited access to quality healthcare, inadequate funding for infant diagnosis and treatment, stigma and denial discouraging women from seeking testing and treatment and weak health systems, particularly in hard-to-reach areas as significant challenges affecting the cause.

Physician and President of the Elizabeth Glaser pediatric AIDS foundation, Dr Doris Macharia, would want country leaders to pay more attention to child health.

‘‘We are not intervening early enough to stop mother to child prevention and children are suffering. Governments must ensure we have improved access to primary health care. African leaders need to commit more funds and leverage on success stories from other African countries to make it work. Leaders must look for different ways to partner for solutions to this critical issue as it works towards ending HIV/AIDS BY 2030’’.

Dr. Doris Macharia

UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director, Angeli Achrekar said African leaders must commit more funds and leverage success stories to address this critical issue.

‘‘Mother to child transmission keeps increasing. It must be looked at. Country leaders must commit funds to the cause to ensure every child delivered is safe,’’ she urged.

Globally, about 1.3 million women with HIV become pregnant each year, with a 15–45% risk of transmitting the virus to their child if no interventions are applied.

Source: 3news.com