Two Rwandan districts register zero Mother-to-Child HIV transmission as the country’s rate drops to 1.5 percent

The two districts were recognised at the launch of the three-month ‘Free To Shine Rwanda’ campaign aiming at ending new HIV infections in children and keeping their mothers alive.

The Catalytic Framework developed in 2015 at the continental level seeks to provide a framework and guide AIDS response efforts, with an emphasis on the elimination of mother to child transmission. Moreover, the national campaign for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission launched in 2011 set up the ambitious targets to reduce mother-to-child transmission in Rwanda from 4.3% in 2011, to less than 2.0% in 2015.

In constant improvement, Rwanda’s national HIV response has offered a comprehensive care package including HIV screening during antenatal care, HIV screening in the postpartum period for both mothers and HIV exposed children, nutritional support for mothers and infants and paediatric treatment protocols. Furthermore, increased decentralisation of HIV prevention and treatment services to the lowest level of health service delivery has enabled greater uptake, adherence and engagement.

Through the extension and improvement of prevention initiatives, treatment protocols and guidelines, and attention to equity, Rwanda’s current MTCT rate is 1.5% (2018).