Continuing on from work initiated at the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) under Jamie Cooper’s leadership, Big Win collaborated with CIFF to support the Government of Zimbabwe in its efforts to reduce mother-to-child HIV transmission rates.
A five-year, $45 million program aimed to reduce the mother-to-child transmission rate from an estimated 30% (in 2010) to less than 12% (2015) by changing the Ministry of Health’s treatment protocols for mothers – shifting to anti-retroviral drugs that are far more effective in preventing transmission and keeping mothers alive. The program ensured that all women were tested for HIV when they became pregnant, were placed on anti-retroviral drugs if they tested positive regardless of the stage of the illness, and were put on a plan for life-long treatment.
The program saw a fast and dramatic reduction in transmission rates, exceeding its original targets. By December 2014, the mother-to-child transmission rate had fallen from 30% to just 6.7%. Following continued support from Big Win through 2016, the country was on track to virtually eliminate mother-to-child transmission (elimination being defined as a rate of 5% or less).
The impressive results from the use of anti-retrovirals in the Zimbabwe program led the World Health Organization to change its guidance. This has now become the standard treatment, which has had a major effect around the world on efforts to stop mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation served as the technical partner on the program.
