South Africa's national program to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV, which the National Department of Health began implementing at 18 pilot sites in 2001 using a single dose nevirapine regimen given to mothers during labor and to infants within 72 hours of birth, alongside modified obstetric practices, infant feeding counseling and free formula for mothers choosing not to breastfeed. The pilot's limited scope was challenged in court by the Treatment Action Campaign, and in December 2001 a South African court ordered the government to develop an effective national program to reduce mother to child transmission by 2002. The case followed international recognition, at the 2000 International AIDS Conference in Durban and the 2001 United Nations Special Session on HIV/AIDS, of antiretroviral regimens as an effective way to cut transmission, and the litigation is widely credited with forcing the pilot program toward full national rollout.
Facts
Program StatusSourced to the subject's own accountActive nationally since the 2002 Constitutional Court order removed restrictions on nevirapine access 1 Sponsoring BodySourced to the subject's own accountSouth African National Department of Health, compelled by a 2002 Constitutional Court order won by the Treatment Action Campaign 1 Target PopulationSourced to the subject's own accountPregnant women and their infants at risk of HIV transmission in South Africa 1 Health GoalSourced to the subject's own accountPrevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV by providing the antiretroviral drug nevirapine to pregnant women through the public health system 1 Geographic ScopeSourced to the subject's own accountNational (South Africa), all state hospitals and clinics 1 Connections
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Africa, found in there.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: HIV/AIDS in South Africa
WikipediaHistory > 2000s section, sentence on the 2002 Constitutional Court nevirapine order, clause naming the plaintiff
following a court challenge by Treatment Action Campaign and others
History > 2000s section, same 2002 Constitutional Court sentence, clause on nationwide hospital and clinic availability
make it available to pregnant women in all state hospitals and clinics
History > 2000s section, same 2002 Constitutional Court sentence, purpose clause
to help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV
History > 2000s section, same 2002 Constitutional Court sentence, describing intended recipients
make it available to pregnant women in all state hospitals and clinics to help prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV
History > 2000s section, opening clause of the 2002 Constitutional Court sentence
South Africa's Constitutional Court ordered the government to remove restrictions on the drug nevirapine
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