Countries have been urged to follow World Health Organization recommendations in dealing with prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B.
Curreny, only 72% of pregnant mothers are tested for Syphilis in Africa. However, WHO recommends that all mothers get tested on their first visit.
Speaking at the Symposium on Lab Diagnostic Strategy for Eradication of HIV, Hepatitis B and Malaria, Dr. Kuku Appian the Director medical and scientific Affairs Abbott Africa said that1.9% of pregnant mothers tested positive (Syphilis), while the mortlity rate is between 8% to 58% if untreated.
At a mother's first antenatal visit, three tests of HIV, Syphilis should be made. Globally, 1.2 million new cases of Syphilis are registered every year. If untreated, a positive mother will infect the unborn child.
Also, African and western pacific regions have the highest prevelance and largest number of people leaving with Hepatitis B. The prevalence in Africa is currently at 6.1%. While it is a must for mothers to test for Hepatitis B, several hospitals are not doing this.
Meanwhile, the number of infants tested for HIV at different hospitals in Uganda is also still low. According to Victor Bigira a coordinator from Uganda National Health Laboratory services, all children in pediatric and nutrition wards must be tested for HIV and enrolled on ART if found positive.
Mr. Bigira explained to the Symposium that key priority should be children who are admitted instead of walk ins for immunization and other medical attention.
Since September 2017, only 120,913 children have been tested. 3.2% (3,925) of these are positive.
According to the information, only 19% of the children admitted in wards are tested and 88% enrolled on ARTs.
