By Teboho Moloi
QWAQWA — As the world marks International AIDS Day on 1 December, the South African Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (SASOG) says the country is recording significant progress in preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV.
According to SASOG, increasing numbers of women living with HIV are giving birth to HIV-negative babies — a milestone attributed to improved access to antenatal care and consistent antiretroviral therapy.
SASOG chairperson, Professor Ismail Bhorat, said the trend demonstrates that with proper medical support, women living with HIV can experience healthy pregnancies and deliver HIV-free infants.
“This progress is a major public health achievement, but we must ensure that all pregnant women have access to early antenatal care, routine HIV testing and treatment,” Prof Bhorat said.
“No woman should face barriers to care that protects her health and her baby’s future. Women carry a disproportionate burden of HIV in South Africa, especially young women and adolescent girls.”
He urged healthcare providers to create safe, stigma-free spaces where women can access HIV testing, treatment and reproductive healthcare without fear of discrimination or judgment.
SASOG also called on policymakers to strengthen equitable access to HIV prevention and treatment services, and to address the social and structural challenges that heighten women’s vulnerability to HIV.
