350 babies have tested negative under the ‘Beyond zero’ campaign spearheaded by Mombasa county health department.
Mombasa county Medical services Chief officer Dr. Khadija Shikelly said that the initiative has reduced maternal death and has tremendously improved child survival chances.
In a graduation ceremony of the 350 babies at the Coast General referral hospital on Sunday, Dr. Shikelly further revealed that mother to child HIV transmission has significantly reduced since the launch of the elimination agenda in the year 2015.
“Prevention from Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT), Elimination from Mother to Child Transmission (EMTCT) has reduced HIV transmission from a whopping 18% to only 3.4%,” she revealed.
Dr. Shikelly encouraged mothers to visit hospitals as soon as they conceive since they will access much needed health support, care and health education on various preventive measures.
She further said that Mombasa county government fully recognises the innovation and contribution to maternal health, neonatal and adolescents that’ is why it face lifted the Coast General referral hospital and Mrima to enable expectant mothers access proper health services.
“Although not all affected mothers gave birth to HIV negative babies, only a few babies were infected,” added Dr. Shikelly.
The graduation was marked to reflect the strides taken by the county government in enhancing the ‘Beyond zero’ campaign in all the six Sub-counties of Likoni, Nyali, Kisauni, Changamwe, Jomvu and Mvita.
