Ministry to implement HIV prevention guideline this week

A national guideline on mitigating the transfer of HIV from mother to child will come into effect from Wednesday, Ministry of Health and Gender has said.

The guideline consists of four main parts; primary prevention of HIV infections; prevention of unintended pregnancies among women living with HIV; prevention of HIV transmission from mothers living with HIV to their infants; care, treatment and support for mothers living with HIV, their children and families.

A statement by Health Ministry said a workshop is underway from Sunday to Tuesday to sensitize health professionals to new guideline. The Ministry also plans to hold a series of phone conferences to all atolls to further disseminate the information.

“All regional hospitals, populous atolls, Male’, Vilimale’ and Hulhumale’ hospitals and some health centres are participating in the workshop. A total of 31 participants are taking part in the workshop,” the statement by the Health Ministry read.

The workshop will also discuss a guideline and standard operating procedure for prevention of Hepatitis B from mother to child, the Ministry said.