Newborns at risk of acquring HIV as the country runs out of preventive drugs

Noel* is living in fear and uncertainty.

The 30-year-old mother, who is living with HIV, has been unable to obtain nevirapine for her newborn.

This is a life-saving medicine used to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

Noel delivered at a public health facility in Migori County two weeks ago, but the hospital did not have the drug in stock.

She returned a week later hoping it had been restocked, but it was still unavailable.

Now, she fears that every passing day without the medicine could put her baby's health at risk.

“I have done everything possible to suppress my HIV viral load because I wanted to protect my baby from acquiring the virus. But the hospital has failed me. I cannot get nevirapine to keep my child safe,” Noel says.

At birth, the babies are put on zidovudine and nevirapine, (prophylaxis) drugs that prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child.

If not given the prophylaxis, babies are at a higher risk of acquiring the virus, and have low immunity.

Noel’s baby was also not tested for HIV at birth.

Instead, she says health workers advised her to continue breastfeeding and return when the child is 18 months old for a final HIV test to determine the baby's status.

“It is painful to raise a baby without knowing whether she is HIV-positive or HIV-negative,” she says.

Kenya, HIV-exposed infants are expected to undergo early infant diagnosis at birth, six weeks, six months and 12 months to determine whether they have acquired the virus.

A final HIV antibody test is conducted at 18 months.

At this stage, a child who test negative are discharged from the HIV follow-up programme, while those who test positive are immediately enrolled on lifelong antiretroviral treatment.

Elsewhere in Murang’a County, Joyce* is facing the same ordeal.

Her one-week-old baby is yet to receive nevirapine.

“I carried my pregnancy to full term believing I would give birth to an HIV-negative baby. But now I cannot get the medicine meant to protect her. I am devastated,” she says.

Joyce says she deliberately postponed pregnancy until her HIV viral load was fully suppressed to minimise the risk of transmitting the virus to her child.

“I have lived with daily medication and the stigma that comes with HIV. It is not a life I would wish for my child. That is why this situation is so heartbreaking,” she adds.

The two cases are not isolated. Hundreds of newborns across the country are at risk of acquiring HIV following shortages and inconsistent distribution of ... nevirapine, threatening gains Kenya has made in preventing mother-to-child transmission of the virus.

According to the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS (NEPHAK), the shortage has been reported for the past three months, from April, May and June.

NEPHAK executive Director Nelson Otwoma said it is worrying to have mothers carry pregnancy to term, only to have their babies acquire the virus.

Otwoma said lack of neverapine is a trigger to increased infections of HIV in newborns across the country.

“When HIV exposed infants miss Nevirapine, they are more likely to seroconvert to HIV (become HIV positive). Nevirapine is a prevention prophylaxis,” Otwoma told The Standard.

The shortages come at a time when Kenya is reporting a rise in cases of mother-to-child HIV transmission, according to data from the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC).

The rate rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV stands at 8.04 percent, a slight improvement from 9.3 percent in 2024.  This is below global targets of below five percent.

Children aged 0 and 14 years accounted for 3,396 new infections, which represented 24.4 percent of all new HIV infections. This is nearly a quarter of the infections.

“This high proportion underscores an urgent programmatic imperative to strengthen the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) ecosystem, eliminate vertical transmission to less than 5%, and fast-track pediatric HIV care,” reads a section of NSDDC report.

“This is the reason why cases of mother to child infection are on the rise. We cannot stop new infections from mother to child when we can’t simply supply these babies with HIV preventive drugs,” complained Otwoma.

In hospitals across Kajiado County there is shortage of zidovidine, while those in stock are past their expiry dates.

The drugs were supplied in April, two weeks to expiry dates, notes sources.

Neverapine are however in supply.

“We normally give zidovudine and nevirapine to babies whose mothers are HIV positive. But we are only giving nevirapine,” explains the source.

However, according to the source, any of the drugs can work, with single use.

“It is scary to give expired drugs to babies. How possible it this. It is even traumatising to do so,” adds the source.

The source hints that NASCOP was informed about expiry of the drugs, for action.

Further, sources observe the need to have authority communicate to communities on the matter to help stop transmission of HIV from mother to child.

“Why would they supply us with prophylaxis that are just about to expire? If there is no supply, can’t they tell us,” she poses.

At Kericho county hospital, there is limited supply of the  prophylaxis.

Yesterday, investigation by The Standard revealed restocking of the drugs in hospitals across the country.

This was after NEPHAK raised concern with National AIDS and STIs Control Program (NASCOP) ON The shortage, and inconsistency in supply of the viral drug.

In Gilgil, Nakuru county, a number of hospitals were reported to have restored the commodity.

“Nevirapine was restocked in my facility. We are doing well on my side,” said one of the facility in charge.

“Restocked, we are safe here,” added another facility. “Neverapine was restocked in my facility, we are doing well on my side,”

In Elgeyo Markwet, though there is adequate supply of nevirapine, distribution of zidovudine is ongoing.

A source in the county who deals with HIV said the there has been shortage of zidovudine, for the past one week.

However, this week, the commodities were supplied by Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA).

The supply was done at Keiyo South, and is currently being distributed to other sub counties.

The shortage was as a result of expiry of those that were in stock. Expiry of the drugs was on June 230, 2026.

“We have supply after the ones that were in stock expired,” said the source.

Neverapine, she said are in adequate supply.

“In Elgeyo Markwet there is no shortage of nevirapine, but last month, there was a week shortage of zidovudine,” added the source.

Asked about impact of the shortage of zedovudine, the source maintained no baby was born, during the period.

“No baby missed out on the Zidovudine in entire county. No baby was born during this period,” said the source.

The commodity was supplied in Keiyo South, and is currently being redistributed.

Last week county and partners had a meeting with mentor mothers.

At the meeting, the mentors were giving a few packs of the HIV preventive drugs, for administering to all newborns.

Redistribution is also happening in Mombasa, according to NEPHAK chairperson Jecktone Chilo.

“We did not have a total stock out. Currently, we are redistribution from facilities to those totally missing,” Chilo told The Standard.

He added, “Facilities are supplied directly from NASCOP. Those that had more, are having them, redistributed to other facilities. We have received at least168 packages of nevarapine packages”.

But even with redistribution, NASCOP is accused of only reaching out to urban areas and counties, leaving out remote villages and counties.

“What they (NASCOP) are doing is to ensure there is supply in Nairobi, because people are more informed. However, supply is still limited in far to reach counties and villages,” regretted the NEPHAK boss.

Otwoma said instead of the issue being addressed in totality, individuals raising a concern are intimidated, with some asked to raise concerns with County AIDS and STI Coordinator (CASCO).

“There is a lot of intimidation. However, our concerns are to have babies not acquiring the virus. We are only demanding for supply of the drug,” said Otwoma.

Contacted, head of NASCOP Andrew Mulwa dismissed complaints on shortage of prophylaxis for newborns.

“Not any that I’m aware of,” said Dr Mulwa.

He added, “We are well stocked and have cover for five months. And in pipeline has more”.