The Uganda AIDS Commission (UAC) has expressed concern over the high number of babies born with HIV, attributing this troubling trend to several factors affecting maternal health.

While addressing the media on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, about the upcoming National HIV and AIDS Symposium 2024 at the Uganda Media Centre, Dr. Vincent Bagambe, the Acting Director General of UAC, attributed this alarming figure to women acquiring HIV during pregnancy, late antenatal care, and mothers stopping treatment during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Dr. Bagambe urged pregnant women to do early testing and treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission. He noted that while Uganda has made strides in reducing new infections through its Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) program, cutting cases from 20,000 in 2010 to 5,900 in 2022, more awareness and proactive measures are essential.

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Dr. Bagambe also pointed out that these are social challenges that can be addressed by keeping girls in school to minimize their risks of contracting HIV.

“If we can help our girls to keep in school longer, then they will be protected from irresponsible or risky sex by providing them with the opportunities to negotiate for safe sex, by protecting them against the cultural practices that put them at risk, and by empowering them economically so that they are not in for sex for survival,” he noted.

The upcoming AIDS symposium on November 13, 2024, aims to further discuss strategies to combat this public health issue and reinforce the importance of comprehensive care throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding. As Uganda strives to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2030, the HIV prevalence reduced from 18% in 1990s to 5.1%. Currently, new HIV infections have reduced from 68,000 to 38,000. As a result, concerted efforts are needed to ensure that all expectant mothers receive adequate support and treatment.