Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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The New Vision (Uganda) - August 18, 2001
Charles Wendo and Juliet Nankinga
Prof. Francis Mmiro, the chairman of the national committee for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission, said at Mulago Hospital on Thursday that the acceptance of HIV tests at the antenatal clinic had increased from 45% to 70% over the last two years.
Mmiro was briefing the visiting Unicef Executive Director, Carol Bellamy, at Mulago Hospital.
He said all women who receive antenatal services at Mulago are advised to take HIV tests. Those who test positive are given drugs that reduce the risk of passing the virus on to their babies.
Mmiro said 18,271 women have attended antenatal clinic at Mulago and 11,941 accepted to be tested, of whom 1,472 had HIV.
He said increased HIV testing was important because those who are HIV negative are more likely to maintain their status while those who test positive can be supported to live longer and to protect their babies.
ôThat was a big achievement for 70% of the people to accept to be tested. At the beginning, most women would say they want to consult their husbands but would never come back,ö Mmiro said.
Health minister Jim Muhwezi, Unicef eastern and southern African chief, Prof Urban Johnson, Unicef representative Michel Sidibe, WHO country representative Dr Oladapo Walker, Uganda AIDS Commission chief Dr. Kihumuro Apuuli and Dr Jacob Jantine of UNAIDS were present.
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