Increasing the scope and intensity of interventions to prevent HIV infection in infants: Best interests of women and children

In sum, while HIV infection in infants has effectively been eliminated in many settings, in Africa the potential for intervention at each service delivery-point is, so far, underutilised and of low quality. There is an inequitable mismatch between the HIV prevention needs of children and the services provided, necessitating a critical review of prevailing strategies. Despite the level of funding and attention available for HIV interventions, by measures such as coverage, outcomes and equity, PMTCT programmes have performed worse than syphilis control or ART programmes. PMTCT has fallen off the HIV bandwagon and needs to climb back on. For that to occur, stronger bolder national and international leadership is needed, reenergising the current approach with innovative strategies based firmly on public-health principles.