By Ojoma Akor
The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has reaffirmed Nigeria’s remarkable progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, according to the institute’s Director, Program Coordinating Unit, Dr. Oche Yusuf.
While citing the intervention as one of the most impactful in the country’s HIV response under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), he said that over 7.8 million children have been prevented from acquiring HIV through PMTCT interventions.
“If that had not happened, imagine having 7.8 million children living with HIV—it would have been a disaster for the country,” he said.
He explained that the achievement was made possible through several innovative approaches that expanded HIV testing and care beyond traditional health facilities.
He said , “Many Nigerian women do not attend health facilities for antenatal care, so we adopted community-based models to reach them. This includes faith-based and congregational strategies, implemented in collaboration with religious organizations to increase testing and uptake of PMTCT services among pregnant women.”
Dr. Yusuf also highlighted the role of government-led initiatives, such as the Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH) Week, which provides a platform for delivering comprehensive health services.
“During MNCH Week, women and children receive HIV testing, referrals, and other services such as malaria screening, blood pressure checks, nutrition support, and deworming,” he added.
According to him, HIV-positive pregnant women are immediately linked to comprehensive care and supported by mentor mothers—women who are living with HIV, have successfully delivered HIV-negative babies, and are trained to guide others through treatment and prevention. “These mentor mothers ensure adherence to medication, provide psychosocial support, and help reduce stigma at the community level,” he said.
He further explained that babies born to mothers who adhere to treatment and achieve viral suppression are almost always HIV-negative.
He said, “If you review women who have gone through the PMTCT cascade and are virally suppressed, about 99% of their babies are HIV-negative,” he stated, noting that the few HIV-positive cases are often from mothers who did not participate in the program.”
Dr. Yusuf reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s goal of eliminating mother-to-child transmission, stressing that early testing, adherence to antiretroviral therapy, and community engagement remain key to sustaining these gains. Click this link to see the full interview.
