In this video from Al-Jazeera English, you can see the profound effect that South Africa’s perinatal HIV transmission prevention program has had on HIV rates in newborns. The program, which provides free antiretroviral therapy to HIV+ pregnant women, has shrunk the mother-to-child HIV transmission rate from 30% a decade ago to a mere 3% now. While the report details some of the inherent flaws both in the formation of the program and in the possibility of drug-resistant HIV strains causing higher rates of perinatal infection, it has been an incredible success for South Africa and has prevented thousands of boys and girls from being born with the virus.

Categories: HIV News