The mission of this program is to ensure that children born to HIV+ women are free of HIV.

The transmission of HIV from a HIV-positive mother to her child during pregnancy, labor, delivery or breastfeeding is called vertical transmission. In the absence of any intervention, transmission rates range from 15% to 35%.

Intervention primarily involves antiretroviral treatment for the mother and a short course of antiretroviral drugs for the baby. It also includes measures to prevent HIV acquisition by the bay and appropriate breastfeeding practices.

How can vertical transmission be prevented? 

• Educate HIV+ pregnant women about HIV and the importance of adhering to medications,

• Provide education and psycho-social counseling to the HIV+ women, and

• Provide continued education to the new mom on how to keep the new born child HIV free. 

We believe that with proper education and intervention, vertical transmission of HIV can be eliminated.

Further, we have had only one child (1 out of 43) born HIV+ since inception of this program.

At this time we have 450 HIV+ children enrolled in our pediatric HIV care program. If the primary caregiver of a child enrolled is pregnant, she is automatically enrolled in our elimination of vertical transmission of HIV program.