Over 16,000 children in Ghana contracted HIV through birth and breastfeeding- Director General, Ghana AIDS Commission

Director General of the Ghana AIDS Commission, Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene has revealed that about 16,381 children in the country are living with HIV.

Speaking to Kojo Sefah-Danquah on Happy98.9FM’s Happy Morning Show, Dr. Atuahene indicated that the children are infants who were infected through delivery and breastfeeding.

Dr. Atuahene said that despite the availability of treatments that prevent the disease’s progression, most children turn to contract the disease when it should not.

“The drugs are free in most government hospitals. Also, doctors, midwives, and nurses are very particular about the health of the unborn babies, so they advise mothers during antenatal to regularly go for the mother-to-child prevention program in order not to transmit HIV, Syphilis and other diseases to their unborn children” he said.

He mentioned that most women, especially during pregnancy, do not attend the Mother to Child prevention program, which is why most children are born with the disease.

“Most mothers do not go for the child prevention program during pregnancy, which is why most children contract the disease. There are a lot of preventive measures to protect the mother and child, so don’t neglect it,” he cautioned.

Meanwhile, infected pregnant women, according to Dr. Atuahene, are usually diagnosed and granted antiretroviral treatment throughout their maternity period.

This, he said, would reduce the quantity of the virus within the immune system of the mother to ensure that the babies are protected.

He emphasized that stopping the AIDS epidemic in the country should be a key priority, “so everyone should get involved.”