THE  COUNTRY COORDINATING MECHANISM-NIGERIA, FOR THE GLOBAL FUND, CALLS ON ORGANIZATIONS FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST TO BE PRINCIPAL RECIPIENTS (PRs) AND TO SUBMIT PROPOSAS ON PREVENTION OF MOTHER TO CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV (PMTCT)  FOR INCLUSION IN THE COUNTRY COORDINATED PROPOSAL (CCP).

Background

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and AIDS continues to be a leading cause of illness and death among women and the children, particularly in countries of the  sub-Saharan Africa where infection levels are extremely high. According to WHO, an estimated 430,000 children under 15 years of age were newly infected with HIV in 2008, over 90 percent of them through mother-to-child transmission. Twenty low and middle income countries account for the highest estimated numbers of pregnant women living with HIV. In the absence of timely treatment, about half of all children infected with HIV will die before their second birthday.

Mother-to-child transmission of HIV has been virtually eliminated in high-income countries and the Global Fund, as a major source of funding for HIV programs, is intensifying its effort in support of rapid expansion of quality PMTCT services. Scaling up PMTCT services will greatly contribute to both maternal and child health outcomes.