Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision (Kampala) - November 11, 2007
Juliet Waiswa
The Ministry of Health estimates that 800,000 children below 15 years, the majority of these in Africa, need ART. Most of the children acquire HIV from their mothers during birth.
Reports show that over 75% of children living with HIV/AIDS are in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, there is need to identify HIV-positive children by following up mothers and their babies in the maternal child health clinics.
The health ministry has a policy that all pregnant mothers undergo the Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT) to prevent the spread of HIV to newborn babies.
The method, however, has been avoided by most mothers. With PMTCT services still inadequate in most countries, the numbers of HIV-infected children in sub-Saharan Africa, continues to grow.
The ministry has, however, emphasised Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test for all children living with HIV/AIDS.
A PCR is a fast and inexpensive technique used in DNA finger printing, detection of bacteria or viruses (particularly AIDS) and diagnosis of genetic disorders.
"The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation has since 2000 worked with the health ministry to promote PMTCT programmes using nevirapine and other complex regimens in health centres," William Salmond, the country director, said.
Salmond says: "Training has been carried out on collection of dry blood spots for HIV and DNA PCR testing of infants to find HIV-positive children early and refer them for care and treatment."
Dr Phillipa Musoke, the chairperson of the National Paediatric ART sub-committee and the in-charge of the Paediatric Infection Disease Centre at Mulago Hospital, says if PMTCT services are improved at all levels, the mother to child transmission can be reduced by 50%.
Reports show that 630,000 children below 15 years acquired HIV in 2004. However, more than 300,000 died at the end of 2006 because they did not access treatment.
Recent reports by the Ministry of Health indicate that only 8,000 children are on ARVs yet over 100,000 children are infected with HIV/AIDS, which they contract from their mothers.
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