Increased uptake of PMTCT services will reduce HIV

 Justice Michael Kirby of the High Court of Australia said: “paradoxically enough, the only way in which we can deal effectively with the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS is by respecting and protecting the rights of those already exposed to it and those most at risk.” In line with this, in Lagos, the State Law for the Protection of persons living with HIV and AIDS was signed into law in 2007.

One of the ways to end HIV infection in the state is what is being done at the health facilities where all pregnant women were encouraged to get tested for HIV and providing ARVs to all pregnant positive women. Implementation of Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) interventions, have been proven to reduce the risk of MTCT of HIV to less than 2% (from about 40% in the absence of any intervention).

As a result, increased uptake of PMTCT services will surely help to reduce HIV.

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