AFRICA/KENYA - 3-year campaign for the fight against mother-child AIDS transmission

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – Kenya has just recently launched a 3-year campaign for the fight against mother-child AIDS transmission. The “Campaign to End Child HIV/AIDS” aims at increasing coverage rates in the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child and increase treatment for those infected. Initially, the campaign will focus on six countries: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, and Nigeria. Each year about 40,000 children are diagnosed with HIV, a very high figure. The government now provides anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) for 30,000 children living with HIV. According to estimates, 60,000 are in need of ARVs. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 9/2/2010)