The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) has announced significant progress in the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV in Rivers State, recording over 95 per cent HIV testing acceptance among pregnant women between 2020 and 2023.
Project Director of the Rivers ASPIRE Project at IHVN, Dr. Stanley Idakwo, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja. He said the milestone reflects years of strategic community engagement, intensive counselling, and sustained peer mentorship initiatives across the state.
Citing data from the District Health Information System, Idakwo reported that HIV testing coverage for pregnant women has consistently remained between 95 and 100 per cent since 2020.
“This achievement is largely driven by effective counselling, strong peer support, and the mentor mother model that encourages adherence and emotional support,” he said.
The PMTCT interventions, he added, continue to strengthen maternal and child health outcomes by ensuring early diagnosis and treatment uptake among expectant mothers living with HIV.
