Update

Fast-Tracking the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Djibouti

13 October 2015

The First Lady of Djibouti, Kadra Mahamoud Haid, and the Executive Director of UNAIDS, Michel Sidibé, have taken part in an event to announce a further acceleration of the country’s campaign to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.

At the event, the Djibouti Minister of Health, Kassim Issak Osman, said that projects to prevent mother-to child-transmission of HIV had shown clear benefits and would be expanded to allow more pregnant women and new mothers to access them.           

At the end of 2014, about one in five pregnant women living with HIV in Djibouti were accessing antiretroviral medicines to keep them healthy and prevent them from transmitting the virus to their children.

Quotes

“As Cuba was able to be the first developing country to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Djibouti, with all our commitment and joint efforts, can be the first to lead the way in the Middle East and North Africa region.”

Kadra Mahamoud Haid, First Lady of Djibouti

"Thanks to the leadership of the President and the commitment of the First Lady, Djibouti has managed to scale up its treatment coverage among pregnant women living with HIV, reducing new infections among children."

Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS Executive Director