HEALTH

 𝐄𝐦𝐛𝐮 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲 h𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 o𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 t𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 n𝐞𝐰 𝐇𝐈𝐕 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐌𝐓𝐂𝐓/𝐄𝐌𝐓𝐂𝐓 𝐌𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐬

Embu County Department of Health officials recently underwent training on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) models. This training coincides with the rollout of new HIV testing kits and updated testing algorithms introduced this year, aimed at enhancing early detection and treatment.

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV remains a significant public health challenge, particularly in western and central Africa, where transmission rates are still high due to infections occurring during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. Despite global progress—with a 53% reduction in new pediatric HIV infections between 2010 and 2020—MTCT rates vary widely by region. Kenya continues to innovate in prevention, risk management, and quality service delivery to address these challenges.

The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) Kenya supports 12 counties, including Embu, implementing comprehensive, high-quality HIV prevention and treatment programs. These include early identification of pregnancies, tailored antenatal care (ANC) services, and continued engagement through postnatal care to reduce risks of transmission.

Notably, while Kenya achieved 94% PMTCT coverage nationally by 2020, challenges remain. The national MTCT rate increased from 8.3% in 2015 to 10.8% in 2020, partly due to drop-offs in antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence during pregnancy and breastfeeding—periods with heightened transmission risk.

In response, EGPAF Kenya’s multipronged approach under the CDC-funded Timiza90 project focuses on early intervention for HIV-exposed infants and retention models to keep mothers in care, aiming to reduce new infections further. For example, Homa Bay County has seen a reduction in MTCT rates from 16.5% in 2015 to 9.