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Plans to make HIV/AIDS tests mandatory

    NAIROBI

    The Ministry of Health is considering plans to make HIV/AIDS tests mandatory for all pregnant women in an effort to reduce mother-to-child transmission of the disease, the "Monitor" reported on Friday. The newspaper quoted the Ugandan director-general of health services, Francis Omaswa, as saying that women found to be HIV-positive would then be provided free of charge with drugs designed to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Omaswa told a parliamentary committee on social services that the ministry was drafting a programme which, if implemented, would establish HIV/AIDS testing centres in all district hospitals, and allow them to administer HIV/AIDS drugs to HIV-positive pregnant women.

    Meanwhile, Minister for Health Jim Muhwezi told parliament on Thursday the government was planning to distribute anti-malaria drugs free on selected days, 'The New Vision' reported. He added that there would be special malaria prevention and treatment packages distributed to mothers and children, according to the government-owned newspaper.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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