Anambra First Lady Pushes Urgent Drive to End Mother-to-Child HIV and Hepatitis Transmission

(Dr Nonye Soludo. Photo by Punch News)

The wife of Anambra State Governor, Dr Nonye Soludo, has called for greater investment and collective action to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis, describing such interventions as critical to protecting families and securing the future of children.

She made the call on Tuesday at a one-day high-level stakeholders' meeting on the Triple Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, and Syphilis in Anambra State, held in Awka.

The event was organised by the state Ministry of Health in collaboration with the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and STIs Control Programme, the Trinity Healthcare Foundation, and other partners.

Addressing participants, Soludo said her Healthy Living with Nonye Soludo Initiative had consistently emphasised preventive healthcare, and stressed that early testing, timely treatment, and proper follow-up during pregnancy could prevent lifelong consequences for both mothers and their babies.

She noted that the Anambra State government's free antenatal care programme in public health facilities had enabled thousands of pregnant women to access essential antenatal services, including screening and preventive interventions aimed at eliminating mother-to-child transmission of the three diseases.

"Greater investment and collective action towards eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis remains more effective and less costly than treating the diseases after they occur," she said.

She stressed that achieving the Triple Elimination Agenda required the collaboration of all stakeholders, including healthcare workers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, development partners, and families, and urged community and religious leaders to intensify awareness campaigns and encourage early antenatal attendance while helping to combat the stigma associated with the diseases.