Siaya county has the lowest mother-to-child HIV transmission rate of 4.3 per cent in the country.
This is according to the Kenya HIV Estimates of 2023 by the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC).
The estimates placed the national average of MTCT at 8.6 per cent. Mandera, recorded a high of 38.8 per cent.
Wajir recorded an MTCT rate of 29.6 per cent, Samburu (25.7) and Narok (21.1).
Kajiado, Kwale, Tana River, Garissa, Marsabit, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Meru, Makueni, Nyandarua, Turkana, Laikipia, Embu, and Nakuru had reduced MTCT.
Kilifi, Isiolo, Kakamega, Bungoma, Bomet, Migori, Kisumu, West Pokot and Homa Bay also recorded a decrease.
According to Kisumu county's HIV programmes officer Justus Orlando, HIV positive mothers are put on highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to reduce the chance of infecting the baby.
The baby is also issued with HEI prophylaxis (AZT and NVP) during the period under exposure, Orlando added.
HAART enables mothers to achieve HIV viral load suppression thus reducing chances of transmitting the virus to the baby, he said.
Siaya county director of health Kennedy Orwenjo attributed the decline in MTC HIV transmission to proper leadership and coordination.
He also said they use community health promoters to pass key health messages at household level on prevention of mother-to-child transmission and elimination of mother to child transmission.
"We have been provided an open opportunity by our leaders, led by Governor James Orengo, hence a conducive environment for experts to strategise and improve services," Orwenjo said.
He said they also use mentor-mothers to educate their peers and incorporate their ideas in psychosocial interaction.
In line with this year's World Aids Day theme of 'Let Communities Lead', Dr Orwenjo said Siaya has been relying on community health promoters to lead the fight against MTCT.
"Siaya is relying on community health promoters to map out pregnant mothers to attend antenatal care to increase uptake of HIV testing services and linkage among positive clients,” Dr Orwenjo said.
During antenatal care, expectant mothers are enlightened on the undetectable is equal to untransmittable concept.
"U=U is a great step towards reducing the spread of HIV infection among people and we continue to urge the people on care to continue practicing adherence and encourage each other," Dr Orwenjo said.
He said the county government is keen on continuous medical education to healthcare providers, strengthening community engagement to foster ownership and collaboration with the national government to improve the availability of commodities (drugs and test kits).
The county health management team has equally continued to spread the 'prevention is better than cure' axiom to ensure that many unborn or breastfeeding children are not exposed to HIV.
"To the general public, let us remember that prevention is better than cure," Dr Orwenjo said.
He said other stakeholders have played a great role towards the fight against MTCTs.
The stakeholders include the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/Aids in Kenya (NEPHAK), Centre for Health Solutions (CHS), and the Siaya County Health Management Team (CHMT).
Dr Orwenjo said there exists many serodiscordant couples in the county who support each other and have brought forth HIV negative babies.
He urged serodiscordant couples to “trust science and embrace expert advice” and not to fear siring babies.
A serodiscordant couple refers to a sexual relationship where one person within the couple is HIV positive whereas the other is not.
There has been a consistent decline in the MTCT over the years.
Nationally, the MTCT rate was at 8.9 per cent in 2021, 9.7 per cent in 2020, 10.8 per cent in 2019 and 21 per cent in 2010, according to the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council.
There are more than 1.3 million people living with HIV in Kenya, with the national prevalence rate standing at 3.7 per cent this year.
Meanwhile, the Siaya county health team has also managed to achieve the '95% - 95% - 95%' target this year, Dr Orwenjo said, adding that it indicates positive progress in the fight against the virus.
This means that at least 95 per cent of the people living with HIV have been tested and have their HIV status know, 95 per cent who are HIV positive are on ART and 95 per cent of whom have their viral loads suppressed.