Uganda has made significant efforts to provide lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART) to HIV-positive pregnant women, with some regions nearing 100% coverage, according to a new report by the Global Alliance for Ending AIDS in Children by 2030.
The report, titled “Transforming Vision into Reality,” was released on Monday, July 24, 2024, at the 25th International AIDS Conference in Munich, Germany.
It highlights the progress made by the 12 African countries that are part of the Global Alliance, which was launched in 2022 by the World Health Organisation, WHO, UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and the Joint UN Programme on HIV, AIDS, and UNAIDS.
The new report also highlights significant progress in preventing 4 million infections among children aged 0–14 years old since 2000 through programs targeting the vertical transmission of HIV, which is from mother to child.
UN AIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima applauded the progress that many countries are making in rolling out HIV services to keep young women healthy and to protect babies and children from HIV.
She emphasized that modern medicines and science can help ensure babies are born and remain HIV-free through effective treatment. But this treatment, she said, must be increased to ensure that all children are reached.
Other Global Alliance countries that achieved strong coverage of lifelong ART therapy among pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV included Tanzania at 98% and South Africa at 97%. Mozambique has achieved 90% coverage, with Zambia at 90%, Angola at 89%, Kenya at 89%, Zimbabwe at 88%, and Cote d’Ivoire at 84%.
In Uganda, the implementation of Option B+, which provides lifelong ART to HIV-positive pregnant and breastfeeding women regardless of their CD4 count or clinical stage, began in September 2012.
A study conducted in Central Uganda between 2013 and 2016 found that 91% of HIV-positive pregnant women received a prescription for lifelong ART, and 93.3% of them started taking the medication.