The objective of this Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission Programme, initiated in 2001 by the Catholic Medical Mission Board, is to reduce the transmission of HIV from pregnant women to their babies before, during and after birth.

Pregnant women in the community – and those who attend the St Mary's antenatal clinic – are encouraged to test for HIV. If the results are positive, the mother is enrolled in the PMTCT programme. Depending on the severity of the disease, the mother may start anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment, or a preventative dose of ARVs may be given during labour and delivery. The baby also receives a dose of ARVs at birth.

96% of babies born on this programme are HIV negative – which translates into a huge saving of life and a real victory in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

A unique aspect of the Born to Live programme is that the mothers stay on treatment – at clinic level – after the birth of their babies. This is vital if mothers are to stay healthy, and it also means their babies will be monitored on an ongoing basis.

If the baby is born HIV positive, then both mother and child are treated at our clinic.