Turkana celebrates major milestone in fight against mother-to-child HIV transmission
Turkana County currently reports a 16.9% HIV transmission rate, more than twice the national average of 7.3%, according to the county government.
However, recent results from a two-year Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) initiative offer hope. The program, designed to eliminate HIV transmission among children by 2030, has seen 82 out of 99 HIV-exposed infants at three health centres declared HIV-negative.
The announcement was made during a celebration at Nakwamoru Health Centre, supported by USAID Imarisha Jamii and the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar. The successful outcomes came from Nakwamoru (17 infants), Kataboi (27), and Lowareng’ak (38) health centres.
Janerose Tioko, Turkana County’s Chief Officer for Preventive and Promotive Health, applauded healthcare workers for their efforts and emphasized the importance of enrolling mothers in the PMTCT program. “We want to encourage mothers to participate because it’s evident that an HIV-positive mother can give birth to an HIV-negative child,” she stated.
Tioko also warned mothers against alcoholism, citing its negative impact on adherence to antiretroviral therapy, which can lead to treatment default. She further urged continued support and collaboration from donor organizations and partners like the National Syndemic Disease Control Council to help meet the 2030 elimination goal.
Jacinta Mwenda, HIV/AIDS Coordinator at the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar, highlighted that since the program’s launch in 2020, 649 HIV-exposed children have tested negative. She also reported a reduction in HIV-related stigma, thanks to increased public awareness.
Samuel Pulkol, County AIDS and STI Coordinator, emphasized the role of community health promoters in raising awareness and encouraging mothers to seek healthcare services during and after pregnancy.
Despite the positive strides, the county’s transmission rate remains a concern. The high prevalence highlights the urgent need to intensify HIV prevention efforts, particularly to protect children from infection.
