Oshakati launches ART project

A PROGRAMME on prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART) was officially launched at the Oshakati State Hospital last week.

Speaking at the occasion, the Governor of Oshana Region, Klemens Kashuupulwa, said the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV involved more than the simple provision of anti-retroviral drugs. He said it needed to go hand in hand with appropriate counselling and testing services as well as support for mothers and infants.Kashuupulwa noted that 30 per cent of pregnant women visiting Oshakati State Hospital were HIV positive.He said 622 pregnant women were registered under the programme in February, of whom 359 had tested HIV positive.Only 65 of their partners, of whom 24 had tested positive, were registered with the programme.Oshakati State Hospital Superintendent, Dr Korbinian Vizcaya Amutenya, said over six million people in developing countries were in need of ART.He said it needed to go hand in hand with appropriate counselling and testing services as well as support for mothers and infants.Kashuupulwa noted that 30 per cent of pregnant women visiting Oshakati State Hospital were HIV positive.He said 622 pregnant women were registered under the programme in February, of whom 359 had tested HIV positive.Only 65 of their partners, of whom 24 had tested positive, were registered with the programme.Oshakati State Hospital Superintendent, Dr Korbinian Vizcaya Amutenya, said over six million people in developing countries were in need of ART.