The Brazilian Ministry of Health launched a program on Wednesday to reduce mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis during pregnancy, spending 38.8 million reais ($21.34 million U.S. dollars) on antiretroviral medications, lactation inhibitors, testing equipment and baby formula (english.people.com, 10/25).
Through this program, the government plans to test 2.3 million pregnant mothers by 2011. Currently, only 1.4 million mothers-to-be are tested.
Recent studies indicate, however, that congenital HIV infection is dwindling in Brazil. In 2005, 530 cases of mother-to-child transmission were reported, down from 1,091 cases in 1996.
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