Babies born to HIV-positive mothers in Kenya face an increased risk of contracting the virus due to a shortage of critical antiretroviral (ARV) drugs.
The supply disruption of prophylaxis medication, crucial in preventing mother-to-child transmission, has left many infants vulnerable.
After birth, babies are put on two prophylaxis drugs, Nevirapine and Zidovudine, but the latter has been out of stock since last year.
Jactone Chilo, the chairperson of the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya (NEPHAK), said children born to HIV-positive mothers are not necessarily infected at birth but remain exposed, a reason they have to be on treatment. "A HIV-positive mother who is pregnant or breastfeeding has the virus, and the child is exposed.
