Issued by: Department of Health
27 October 1998
Government has come out in support of the Department of Health's decision not to administer the AZT drug to pregnant women.
The Inter-Ministerial Committee on AIDS, chaired by Deputy President Mbeki, considered at its monthly meeting today responses to the transmission of HIV/AIDS by expectant mothers to their babies.
Research has shown that about 34% of pregnant women pass on the HIV virus in the last stage of their pregnancy and breastfeeding. Trials in Thailand have shown that the AZT drug could help in reducing mother to child transmission by 50%. This would mean that the number of pregnant women transmitting to new-born babies could be reduced from 34% to 17%. In Thailand the drug was administered during late pregnancy and mothers were counselled not to breastfeed their infants.
A detailed study in South Africa has shown that introduction of the drug would cost about R80 million resulting in a further strain on an already limited health budget. Consideration would also have to be given to the high dependence on breast-feeding in South Africa.
The IMC therefore endorsed the 2 October 1998 decision taken by the MECs of Health from the various provinces not to introduce the AZT regimen at this point in time. This decision will be reviewed as new information becomes available.
Government is currently monitoring the results of other initiatives aimed at addressing the problem of moth to child transmission of the HIV virus.
In the meanwhile government will continue its strategy of campaigning to ensure the prevention of the spreading of the HIV virus.
For further information, please contact Mtholephi Mthimkhulu, Aids Campaign Manager at the Department of Health, at 082 574 5081.