AIDS prevalence among women in Embu high

he Embu County Health Department has raised concerns over the increased HIV/AIDS prevalence rate among women.

Statistics show that women’s HIV prevalence rate in the county is at 5% compared to 3.7% among men.

Also Read: Gilead’s HIV drug gets closer to getting Europe approval

Deputy Governor Dorothy Nditi said HIV/AIDS related programmes that target women have been enhanced especially on pregnant mothers with an aim of reducing mother-to-child infection.

Speaking while presiding over HIV exposed infant graduation ceremony in Embu town, Nditi said the programmes are aimed at improving maternal health and ensuring that only qualified health professionals oversee child deliveries in the county.

She said that the Beyond Zero Mobile Clinic will also be used to assist mothers, especially those in remote areas, to access quality child deliveries and health care.

Nditi emphasized the need to achieve zero mother-to-child HIV infections and called on stakeholders to take centre stage in supporting the program.

The program sponsored by the Embu County department of Health, Aphia Plus Kamili and USAID is sensitizing HIV/AIDS infected mothers on the importance of preventing any possible transmission to the child.

About 97% of the mothers involved in the program gave birth to babies with zero infections.