SCALING UP PREVENTION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD HIV TRANSMISSION PROGRAMS IN NANDI
The prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is one of the most successful HIV prevention strategies, with substantial reductions in the number of HIV positive children born to HIV positive women.
In Nandi County, the mother-to-child transmission of HIV is one of the greatest health challenges with hundreds of infants infected annually. Scaling up PMTCT services in the county is crucial in eliminating mother-to-child transmission.
Hon Ezra Rotich, Chairperson Health
Committee – Nandi Assembly
The vast majority of maternal deaths are preventable when women have access to quality antenatal and postnatal care, and safe delivery attended by skilled personnel that is supported by emergency obstetric care. While the death of a mother is a tragedy in itself, it also has devastating effects on the survival of her children, the economic stability of the family, and the productivity of the community.
The County Government of Nandi builds on decades of successes in improving maternal health and HIV prevention, care, and treatment to move towards elimination of vertical transmission, critical to stemming the rise in new HIV diagnoses and achieving control of the HIV epidemic.
Acknowledging the importance of global partnerships, including the Walter Reed Program, as well as collaborative efforts, Nandi has seen significant progress in the past years, with a reduction in new HIV infections and a decrease in AIDS-related deaths.
Earlier today, the County Department of Health and Sanitation held a multisectoral advocacy meeting convened by the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) for PMTCT demand creation targeting top religious leaders, County Administrators, County Assembly Health Committee members to address family, religious and cultural barriers and lobby for funding of county EMTCT plans. 
The objectives of the meeting were to explain the missed opportunities within the PMTCT cascade, including Pediatric HIV Care, to identify innovative multisectoral pathways and opportunities that Nandi County can harness towards the validation of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and Hepatitis B and lobby for funding of Nandi County EMTCT plans.
Speaking during the event, the Deputy Governor Dr Yulita Cheruiyot pledged the county’s support in strengthening the county EMTCT program. “We are committed to be among the counties in Kenya to be validated for the pre-elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis,” she said.
Present at the event were the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC) officials, Hon Ezra Kipchirchir who’s also the County Assembly Health Committee Chairperson and his Nandi hills counterpart Hon Edwin Kiprop among other top county and national government administration officials.