By Ikenna Osuoha
Association of Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN) has expressed its commitment to promoting Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) in Nigeria.
Ms Assumpta Reginald, National Coordinator of the organization, said this at the opening of 16 days of Activism on Elimination of Gender-Based Violence in Abuja on Thursday.
Reginald said that they had the capacity to drive community support for PMCT programming.
“We have been doing and will continue to do what we know how to do best, support women living with HIV to live high quality lives with family and children,” she said.
The coordinator condemned the act of negligence and tokenism in the support of women living with HIV, especially pregnant women.
Ms Patience Ekeoba of the UN Women, restated the need for living no one behind.
Ekeoba assured ASWHAN of their continued support in stepping up access to HIV prevention and treatment, especially for pregnant women.
According to her, “we will continue to support you to ensure that the target set for PMCT is achieved”.
Dr Gambo Aliyu, Director General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), expressed the importance of diagnosis for pregnant women.
Aliyu, represented by Mrs Funke Okii, emphasised the need for collaboration with Gynaecologists to detect and promote PMCT.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMCT) is key in preventing new infections. (NAN)
