First lady says Malawi on course to eliminate HIV mother to child transmission

There is great expectation globally that Malawi be one of the first countries to achieve the fast-track elimination of HIV mother-to-child transmission target of five per cent or less by 2020 and complete elimination of paediatric AIDS by 2030, said First Lady, Gertrude Mutharika when she launched the “Free to Shine” Campaign as part of the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV and AIDS (OAFLA) efforts to ending paediatric AIDS by 2020.

Mutharika said, the First Ladies in Africa recognise that eliminating vertical transmission of HIV and reducing new HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women, while keeping HIV infected mothers on antiretroviral treatment (ARVs), remains critical to achieving the 90:90:90 fast-track targets and ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.