Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS

Wednesday 01 December 2010 01:00 GMT

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In Zimbabwe nearly a thousand adults are newly infected with HIV each week. A similar number die of AIDS. Helping the next generation to be free of HIV is crucial to stopping the spread of the virus.

The UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID) funds the Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric AIDS Foundation to reduce transmission from pregnant mothers to their babies, so children can be born HIV free and go on to lead healthy lives.

The Foundation’s programme provides anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs to pregnant, HIV positive women before and after they give birth, medical support in labour, advice on how to feed and care for the baby and ongoing counselling.

The UK's long term support for HIV prevention in Zimbabwe has helped the country to reduce HIV infection rates from 24 per cent of the adult population a decade ago to 14 per cent in 2009.

Click on the image to see a photo story of HIV/AIDS sufferers, their famillies and children - and what DFID is doing to help

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Preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS