Kano Launches Fresh Push To Stop HIV, Hepatitis B, Syphilis Transmission To Babies

(Pregnant Woman. Photo by Healthline)

Through improved prenatal care services, early diagnosis, and timely treatment, the Kano State government has renewed its commitment to eradicating the transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B, and syphilis from mother to child.

This was said by Abubakar Yusuf, the Commissioner for Health, on Thursday in Kano at a summit on preventing the three illnesses from being passed from mother to child.

According to Mr. Yusuf, the infections are mostly avoidable, and syphilis can be fully cured if caught early and treated.

He advised expectant mothers and their partners to make sure they register for prenatal care as soon as possible.

The state health authorities called on women and their husbands to ensure that pregnant women attend antenatal clinics early, so that any abnormality in the mother or unborn child can be detected and appropriate interventions provided in good time.

The commissioner disclosed that Kano is among a few states that have commenced implementation of the national triple elimination strategy aimed at ending the vertical transmission of the three infections.

He expressed optimism that the resolutions from the summit would further strengthen the state’s response and improve healthcare delivery, urging pregnant women to register for antenatal care as early as possible to enable health workers detect and manage infections alongside other pregnancy-related complications.

Speaking on the matter, the Director-General of the Kano State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS (KSACA), Usman Bashir, said the summit was organised to showcase the state’s efforts in combating the diseases.

He noted that the initiative aligns with national and global strategies for eliminating the vertical transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis, adding that while significant progress has been recorded in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, greater attention is still required for Hepatitis B and Syphilis.

According to him, Kano has gone beyond routine testing by providing treatment and vaccines for Hepatitis B, as well as treatment for Syphilis, disclosing that pregnant women diagnosed with Hepatitis B are placed on Tenofovir where necessary, while babies receive the Hepatitis B vaccine at birth to reduce the risk of transmission.

The director-general called on other states to adopt similar interventions to accelerate Nigeria’s progress toward eliminating mother-to-child transmission of the infections, noting that the North-West zone has one of the highest Hepatitis B prevalence rates in the country, which makes sustained preventive interventions imperative.

A news agency reports that the summit brought together policymakers, development partners, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to review progress and strengthen collaboration on the triple elimination initiative.