Between 40,000 and 60,000 children were born HIV positive in Zimbabwe every year, a senior health official has told IRINS's PlusNews.

Dr Inam Chitsike, project officer of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, said that the country's MTCT intervention programme was gradually being introduced in districts countrywide. Pilot sites were already operational
and the next step was to make the programme more accessible to expectant
mothers, Chitsike said.

Chitsike added that the programmes did not focus solely on prevention, but
also included care and support through counselling and other services. She
said that the government was in negotiations with Nevirapine manufacturers,
Boehringer-Ingelheim, to provide the country with the drug. Nevirapine can
reduce the risk of MTCT significantly. The government expects the drug to be
launched in the country before the end of the year. --- IRIN