Luanda: A total of 262 babies born to HIV-positive mothers in Angola's central Huambo province were delivered free of the virus during the first half of this year, local health officials reported on Monday. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the efforts to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the region. According to Angola Press News Agency, this figure represents an increase of 50 HIV-negative births among seropositive mothers compared to the same period last year. Inocêncio Feca Sangueve, a provincial health program technician, highlighted that out of 275 babies born to HIV-positive mothers during the six-month period, only 13 tested positive for the virus. Health authorities conducted tests on 45,124 pregnant women across the province between January and June, with 193 testing positive for HIV. Sangueve attributed the high rate of mother-to-child prevention to ongoing health initiatives linked to the "Born Free to Shine" campaign. The campaign, launched in 2018 by First Lady Ana Dias Lourenço, has continued to influence maternal health practices across the country despite officially concluding in 2021. Broader testing efforts across Huambo province identified 1,151 positive cases out of 85,938 individuals screened in the first half of the year. Infections were primarily concentrated among people aged 16 to 50. During the same period, the province recorded 57 HIV-related deaths, an increase of seven compared to the previous year. Additionally, 113 patients abandoned treatment during the semester, a decrease from 207 in the preceding six months. This trend is largely attributed to social stigma and discrimination faced by those undergoing HIV treatment. Currently, Huambo monitors 20,024 HIV/AIDS patients receiving outpatient care across its public health network.
