On February 27, 2018, CHS joined the County Government of Laikipia in launching a county-specific business plan for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and Syphilis (2018-2020) dubbed ‘Linda Kizazi Mashinani Business Plan.’ Held in Nanyuki, the event brought together county officials from Laikipia and other neighbouring counties, development partners, as well as a number of mothers from the county who had benefitted from the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programs offered across various facilities in the county.
Linda Kizazi Mashinani is a three-year plan that outlines key indicators and plans the county has in efforts to eliminate the transmission of HIV from mother to child. Currently, over 7,000 people are living with HIV in the county and an estimated three (3) out of 10 HIV positive mothers transmit the virus to their children, a trend that the county government intends to reverse.
Speaking during the event, Laikipia County Governor H.E Ndiritu Muriithi, pledged his support in strengthening the county EMTCT program. “Laikipia is committed to be among the first counties in Kenya to be validated for the pre-elimination of mother to child transmission of HIV and Syphilis. We have adopted a community-based model to bridge the gaps between the health needs of our people and services,” he said. This was seconded by the County First Lady H.E. Mariah Mbeneka who further vowed to advocate for the inclusion of women and youth as ambassadors of the program.
“As a partner organization, we are proud of the County Government of Laikipia for being among the first counties in the country to launch the EMTCT business plan, we reaffirm our commitment in working together with the county to achieve our goals in HIV prevention, care and treatment,” said CHS Tegemeza Plus Program Director, Dr Prisca Muange.
With support from the United States President’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), through the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) CHS has been supporting PMTCT programs at two health facilities in Laikipia County since 2011.
As part of the efforts towards achieving EMTCT, CHS has invested in the implementation of integrated services in maternal and neonatal health care (MNH) settings within maternal, child health and delivery clinics.
In the sites that CHS supports in Central Kenya (Nyeri, Nyandarua, Laikipia and Murang’a counties) 1,250 women tested HIV positive 1,245 of whom were initiated on ARV’S. 1,329 HIV Exposed Infants (HEI) were tested within 12 months of birth and 1,245 were initiated on ART Prophylaxis.
