Health Ministry Targets Zero Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

Kenya’s Ministry of Health has reaffirmed its ambitious goal to eliminate mother‑to‑child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, aiming for zero new infant infections by 2027. The strategy, part of the Kenya Plan to End AIDS in Children by 2027, was launched by the Health Cabinet Secretary and calls for intensified efforts with global partners like PEPFAR and the Global Fund.
Central to the plan is scaling up Prevention of Mother‑to‑Child Transmission (PMTCT) services across antenatal clinics nationwide. The Ministry has prioritized universal antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all pregnant and breastfeeding women, aiming to reduce the vertical transmission rate to 5% or lower, in line with national clinical guidelines. To support this, Kenya is leveraging the Mentor Mother Programme, where trained HIV‑positive mothers provide peer support, adherence counselling and follow-up in communities.
Kenya’s elimination effort is also linked to a broader triple elimination framework, which combines the fight against HIV with syphilis and hepatitis B in newborns — an initiative aligned with new WHO guidance. The Ministry has emphasized decentralised implementation, with county teams working to build capacity in testing, treatment, and retention throughout pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Despite progress, challenges remain: recent data show that transmission rates are still around 7.3%, primarily due to treatment drop‑off among mothers during pregnancy and postpartum. Health officials say closing these gaps will require stronger community follow-up, improved viral suppression, and support for mothers beyond delivery — all critical steps on the path toward a generation born HIV-free.