THE United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) will expand its prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission project to a total of 50 townships throughout Myanmar by 2010, said a senior official from the organisation.

Daw Khin Ma Ma Aye, the assistant representative of UNFPA in Myanmar, said the project is now being conducted in 24 townships using the organisation’s regular funding and will be extended to more 26 townships with help from the Three Diseases Fund.

Through the project, UNFPA offers voluntary counselling and confidential blood testing for pregnant women who seek antenatal care and provides care and treatment for opportunistic infections in HIV-infected pregnant women.

The organisation also provides a single dose of antiretroviral medicine for HIV-infected pregnant women before labour as well as antiretroviral medicine for her newborn baby.

Daw Khin Ma Ma Aye said the organisation is trying to expand the project to more townships throughout the country because communities need healthcare service after they have been provided with health education.

“The attitudes of pregnant women have changed and they have increased their participation in voluntary counselling and confidential testing programs when getting pregnancy checks and antenatal care,” she said.

There are three stages at which HIV can be transmitted from mother to child: during pregnancy, during childbirth and through breastfeeding.