2019 Annual Report

Abstract

In 2019, the HIV prevalence was 2.0% as against 2.4% in 2018 amongst pregnant women attending Antenatal Care (2019 HIV Sentinel Survey Report, May 2019). To reduce the incidence of HIV in the country, the Programme developed and began the implementation of an Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilization plan and collaborated with other partners to address HIV-related stigma and human rights abuses. One Million, eight hundred and twentyseven thousand, eight hundred and one, (1,827,801) out of a target of 2,635,051 were tested for HIV in 2019, representing 69% target coverage, the highest in the last five years. Approximately 19% were males, 33% were non-pregnant women, and the remaining 48% were pregnant women. Of those tested 69,120 were found positive, giving a testing yield of 3.8%, the lowest in the last five years. From a total of 1,211,232 expected pregnancies in 2019, 72% (873,035) were offered HIV testing and received their results. Thirteen thousand, one hundred and forty-two (13,142) out of those tested were HIV positive (1.5%), and 11,682 (89% of positives) were provided ARVs to Prevent Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT). Ten thousand and sixtythree (10,063) of the 13,142 expected HIV Exposed Infants (HEI) received Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), giving a 77% nucleic acid testing coverage and 8% (813) of them were positive at six weeks.