Health experts have dispelled the notion that mothers infected with HIV aids virus should not breastfeed their babies for fear of transmitting the virus via breast milk.
Dr. Nicholas Muraguri Head of Kenya’s Aids Commission says infected mothers who are diagnosed with life serving ARV’s and exclusively breastfeed their babies in the first six months are not at risk of transmitting the virus to their babies.
According to World Health organization exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of HIV transmission by about half in the absence of ARVs.
WHO says exclusive breastfeeding is much more effective than partial breastfeeding (mixed feeding) at protecting against these infectious
He says the government has now rolled out the option B plus programme that ensures all pregnant women who are HIV positive are provided with the lifesaving anti retroviral treatment.
On his part Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan speaking during the breast feeding week challenged fathers to encourage their wives to breastfeed their babies to reduce chances of getting breast cancer.
AUTHOR: SYLVIA WEMA