Children neglected in war against HIV infections – experts
By George.Kebaso, September 4, 2023One of the recommendations at the end of this year’s Maisha HIV/Aids Scientific Conference was the commitment by the National Assembly to fast track the establishment of a caucus of legislators keen on reducing HIV infections among infants.
It was agreed that to reduce infections, there is need for political goodwill.
Members of the National Assembly Committee on Health, who were present at the conference, heard how Kenyan children are likely to miss out on the United Nations AIDS 95, 95, 95 targets if this issue is not addressed.
“We are going to establish a Pediatric Parliamentary Caucus in the National Assembly to address issues related to children,” Committee vice chair Patrick Munene (Igamba Ng’ombe) said.
It emerged that there are glaring gaps in the prevention against infection of infants, treatment of those born HIV positive, and even when funding opportunities are being discussed.
Elizabeth Glaser Paediatric Foundation (EGPAF), country director Dr Eliud Mwangi cautioned that the country will not achieve the 2030 United Nations AIDS targets if children are not included in all planning and funding activities.
Boardrooms
He expressed concern that as the country is working towards meeting the UNAIDS 95, 95, 95 targets among adults, minors, especially infants, are nowhere in the picture.
“These children are not in conferences; in public places, in boardrooms where funding budgets are being discussed. They are not in Parliament, neither are they in testing centres,” said Dr Mwangi.
He gave an analogy of the place of a child when food is being served in the African setting, where they are usually given priority and wondered what happened that this group of the population doesn’t feature in anti-HIV/AIDS plans.
“Traditionally, when we cooked our meals, we put children first. But in this struggle, we have left them out,” he noted.
He pointed out that in every 100 women who are infected, about nine per cent infect their infants during breastfeeding.
He called on Parliament to establish a Parliamentary Caucus on Children so that the minors’ issues can be discussed properly at policy level.
“We need to ring-fence funding for children, and sensitise the community to help stop paediatric HIV. We can always succeed if we work with communities. Funding is also key in fighting HIV/AIDS in children,” said Dr Mwangi.
There are concerns over the high rates of mother-to-child HIV transmissions at 8.3 per cent.