Source: The Star
The government's free maternity services in all public hospitals has helped reduce HIV transmission from mother-to-child in Mombasa. County Aids-STI coordinator Dr Anisa Baghazal yesterday said most mothers are delivering in health facilities.
She said, in the past, a large number of expectant mothers sought services of untrained midwives leading to contamination and infections. "Many mothers would prefer to deliver from home to avoid hospital expenses. The government's move has however made a difference. This has helped control mother to child HIV transmission," Baghazal said.
Coast region director of medical services Dr Khadija Shikelly said the free maternity programme, which began on June 1, has seen a 20 per cent increase of mothers delivering in public hospitals.