Lesotho to reduce HIV in children

by Teboho Senthebane, South Africa

The Lesotho government has launched a four-year plan to reduce new HIV infections among children by 50 percent and ensure that all HIV-infected children have access to life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) treatment.

Mother-to-child transmission is the leading cause of HIV infection in children. Lesotho introduced prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission (PMTCT) services in 2003. WHO and UNICEF are partnering with Lesotho's Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to implement a new plan that includes establishing universal access to PMTCT services and reducing the risk of mother-to-child transmission by 80 percent by 2011.