Issued by: Gauteng Health Department
17 July 2001
Following the decision of national government on the prevention of mother-to-child transmission, two initial pilot sites were identified and launched by the Gauteng government. These sites are Natalspruit hospital and JC Dumane CHC complex, and Kalafong hospital and Pretoria West district hospital complex.
The intervention consists of voluntary testing of pregnant women for HIV, confirmatory testing of those women found to be positive in the initial test, the administration of a single dose of Nevirapine to the mother at the time of delivery, the avoidance of midwifery practices that might facilitate transmission of HIV, and the administration of Nevirapine syrup to the baby within 48-72 after birth.
The mother is counselled on the choice of feeding and the babies are followed up for 18 months with 3 HIV tests and general health care as required, and the mother is advised to use contraception. There is a need for counselling, education and support throughout the entire 18-24 months, with emphasis on certain critical times.
The Natalspruit/JC Dumane site started implementation in May 2001 and the Kalafong/Pretoria West in June 2001. Other sites approved by the province have also started preparation for implementation. The site on the West Rand will start implementation at the end of July 2001.
The total number of woman seen at these 4 sites is 1371, of whom 798 (approximately 58%) have been tested, and 107 (over 7 months pregnant) have been issued with Nevirapine for use once labour commences. So far 37 babies have been born at these four sites with Nevirapine prophylaxis. While these figures are interesting, it is actually far too early to draw conclusions regarding the programme at this stage.
What is encouraging is that fathers are requesting testing as well, particularly in the Kalafong/Pretoria West area. Counsellors are in place for this purpose.
The estimated cost per site is around R1.3
The exact resource needs will be assessed through the pilots and through the phased implementation. At this stage, we are ensuring that additional counsellors are available to support nurses with this intervention. Monitoring at the pilot sites is of fundamental importance and is covered through the national support to the pilot programme.
This interventions will go some way in containing the spread of HIV/AIDS among the babies of HIV-positive mothers BUT it is not a primary prevention strategy.
For more information please contact
Popo Maja at 082-373-1169