HIV among kids can be prevented, says medic
Jul 07, 2010
THE spread of HIV from parents to their children can be prevented, an official has said. Dr. Peter Mugenyi, the director of the Joint Clinical Research Centre, said this can be done if parents know their sero status and declare it to heath service providers for advice.
By Charles Ariko
THE spread of HIV from parents to their children can be prevented, an official has said. Dr. Peter Mugenyi, the director of the Joint Clinical Research Centre, said this can be done if parents know their sero status and declare it to heath service providers for advice.
“We can end paediatric AIDS because we know how to do it and we have the means. Other countries have done it and we can too,†Mugenyi said.
He was on Saturday speaking at the launch of a drive titled, “Campaign to End Pediatrics HIV/AIDS†at the Railway Grounds in Kampala. The drive targets children aged between 0-14 years.
Mugenyi said efforts to combat HIV among children need concerted efforts from everybody and not only expectant mothers.
He called for more funding to support the prevention of mother-to-child transmission so as to have an AIDS-free generation.
“Increased funding in this sector is an investment because we will have a new generation of children born without HIV, which would give the country a good foundation,†Mugenyi said.
Dr. Sabrina Kitaka, the president of the Uganda Paediatrics Association, said HIV can be eradicated if the Government increases funding to the health sector.
She said 25,000 children acquire HIV annually, which implies that about 67 children are infected daily.
THE spread of HIV from parents to their children can be prevented, an official has said. Dr. Peter Mugenyi, the director of the Joint Clinical Research Centre, said this can be done if parents know their sero status and declare it to heath service providers for advice.
“We can end paediatric AIDS because we know how to do it and we have the means. Other countries have done it and we can too,†Mugenyi said.
He was on Saturday speaking at the launch of a drive titled, “Campaign to End Pediatrics HIV/AIDS†at the Railway Grounds in Kampala. The drive targets children aged between 0-14 years.
Mugenyi said efforts to combat HIV among children need concerted efforts from everybody and not only expectant mothers.
He called for more funding to support the prevention of mother-to-child transmission so as to have an AIDS-free generation.
“Increased funding in this sector is an investment because we will have a new generation of children born without HIV, which would give the country a good foundation,†Mugenyi said.
Dr. Sabrina Kitaka, the president of the Uganda Paediatrics Association, said HIV can be eradicated if the Government increases funding to the health sector.
She said 25,000 children acquire HIV annually, which implies that about 67 children are infected daily.