Critical HIV drug shortage puts newborns at risk
The shortage of Nevirapine has persisted in Kisumu and other regions, leaving healthcare providers unable to deliver the standard two-week oral treatment regimen.
What you need to know:
- The drug shortage has disrupted established treatment protocols designed to protect babies from acquiring the virus during birth and early infancy.
Newborns across Kenya have been missing doses of a life-saving HIV prevention medication due to prolonged stock-outs in health facilities, threatening the country’s progress in eliminating mother-to-child transmissions.
The shortage of Nevirapine has persisted in Kisumu and other regions, leaving healthcare providers unable to deliver the standard two-week oral treatment regimen.
Expectant mothers living with HIV now face heightened anxiety about their babies’ health.
The drug shortage has disrupted established treatment protocols designed to protect babies from acquiring the virus during birth and early infancy.
At Jaramogi Odinga Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital, medical staff have confirmed the absence of the essential medication from their pharmacy stocks.
Petronila Musanga, who works with adolescents and children affected by HIV at the facility, acknowledged the extended stock-out period.
The hospital has been compelled to rely on alternative drugs such as Zidovudine. “Healthcare providers are implementing backup interventions to maintain some level of protection against mother-to-child transmission during this supply crisis.”
Kenya’s progress in reducing maternal transmission rates now faces potential threats as the shortage continues to affect the delivery of standardised prevention care across multiple counties.
“We are currently using Zidovudine, an alternative drug administered to HIV-positive mothers to prevent transmissions,” said Musanga.
The Ministry of Health had made significant strides in reducing HIV infections among children by implementing a multifaceted approach.
Some of the interventions include offering antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy and breastfeeding, and supportive care for both mothers and infants.
This has resulted in a notable decline in mother-child-transmissions.
Mother-to-child transmissions, which account for more than 90 per cent of new childhood infections, can be reduced to less than five per cent through improved access to ART and support services during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.
Distribution of the life-saving drugs stopped after the freezing of USAID funding by the US government.
The 90-day foreign aid freeze, ordered by US President Donald Trump after taking office on January 20, suspended the global supply chain for medical products to fight HIV and other diseases.
According to UNAIDS statistics, maternal transmissions is by far the largest source of HIV infection in children below the age of 15 years.
So far, the Aids epidemic has claimed the lives of nearly three million children, and another one million are living with HIV. An estimated 13,000 new HIV infections occur among Kenyan infants each year.
All requests to distribute PEPFAR-supported products in the country through USAID are on hold until further guidance. Products that were to be distributed in January 2025 under USAID/PEPFAR include ARVs (Nevirapine syrup and Dolutegravir (DTG) 10 mg and 50 mg).
Viral load and EID products are mainly procured through PEPFAR support.
Jaramogi Odinga Oginga Teaching and Referral Hospital CEO Richard Lesiyampe said the government needs to look for alternative sources of funds for HIV/Aids management.
“We don’t necessarily have to depend on donors and outsiders. However, partnership is important, you either partner or you perish,” said Dr Lesiyampe.
