The fight against HIV

HIV in infants almost completely eradicated in Botswana

Botswana has made great progress in two decades in preventing HIV infection that spreads from mothers to children. The transmission was previously described as an existential threat, but with a series of methods it has been reduced from more than 20 percent to 1.2 percent, reports The Guardian.

A key to the success was the rollout in 2013 of a government-funded program in which HIV-positive mothers were treated with three different drugs.

HIV doctor Ava Avalos says that the number has dropped to the point that the World Health Organization WHO has often doubted what the country reported.

– It went on for several years, before they had to accept that our program was really as strong as we said.

Infant formula part of the success: “Reduced stigma”

One challenge in Botswana’s highly successful fight to prevent HIV transmission from mothers to children was persuading women to use infant formula instead of breastfeeding, retired pediatrician Loeto Mazhani told The Guardian.

Many women were afraid of being ostracized by their environment, as infant formula was seen as a clear sign of HIV infection.

“But over time, the stigma decreased,” he says.

The transmission of HIV infection from mothers to children has decreased from more than 20 percent to today’s 1.2 percent.