By Chris Ahimbisibwe
The First Lady and MP for Ruhaama county, Janet Museveni, has called for the promotion of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmissions (PMCT) services to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS among babies.

She said PMCT was a pre-requisite in the fight against the scourge.

Mrs. Museveni said one of the strengths of the programme was that up to 90% of pregnant women made contact with a health care provider at least once during their pregnancy.

Mrs. Museveni’s message was contained in a speech read by the minister of local government, Adolf Mwesige, at the launch of the PMCT programme in Kabwohe in Bushenyi district on Tuesday.

According to the initiative’s chief, Dr Elioda Tumwesigye, the five-year project worth $3m (about sh6b) will cover Bushenyi, Ntungamo, Mbarara, Ibanda, Isingiro and Kiruhura districts.

He said the project, funded by the US, would cater for over 7,000 HIV-positive pregnant women.

It is estimated that over 110,000 children live with HIV in Uganda. Over 90% of the children got the virus from their mothers.

Tumwesigye, who is also the Sheema North MP, said the disease had remained high among married couples.

State minister for health Dr. Richard Nduhura said aunties (sengas) had forgotten to teach girls the importance of keeping their virginity.

He said this had contributed to the spread of the disease.