HIV Positive Mothers to Breastfeed Their Babies

A mother who are HIV positive and taking antiretroviral drugs can breastfeed exclusively at six months of the baby without transmitting his HIV virus to the baby. These results National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) in Botswana, Nigeria, Nigeria. So the press release issued by Breastfeeding Mother Association of Indonesia in Jakarta, Thursday (10/12/2009), signed Mia Susanto, Chief Nursing Mother Association of Indonesia (Aimi).

In the press release stated, Nigeria NACA research results are released by Professor John Idoko, Director of NACA Nigeria, on 26 November. Scientific writing theme is "Universal Access and Human Rights, Closing the Gap Wide in Preventing Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT)".

Mia Susanto responded positively to the Nigerian NACA research. Before the announcement of the results of this research, international parties are still hesitant to recommend that HIV positive mothers to breastfeed their babies. "With this research, the fear that infants born to HIV positive mothers will be infected through mother's milk becomes minimalized. For HIV positive mothers are taking antiretroviral drugs," he explained.

Furthermore, he says, from the beginning Aimi always recommend that mothers can breastfeed their babies exclusively, even in sickness. Consideration, in addition to all the good baby from mother's milk, the baby also received antibodies from the mother to the disease.

Newborn baby is very vulnerable to infection or infectious diseases in the surrounding environment. The best way to protect babies from infection and various diseases is to give milk.

"Why is that? Because breast milk is the best nutrition hygiene, which has the most complete nutrition, and in particular contain antibodies produced by the body of his mother. Antibodies is not owned by any milk substitute, which can protect babies from infection around it," said Mia.

Mia confirmed, breastfeeding can not be compared or replaced by formula milk. Because the formula milk is not sterile products. "Not to mention for the presentation that needs a place and water, which may not be sterilized first. Therefore, formula milk feeding will increase the danger of infectious diseases and mal-nutrition," he said.

Existence of a recommendation from Nigeria NACA, press Mia, Aimi reinforced the movement and the government encourages private parties to provide support for breastfeeding mothers.

Aimi in this press release, also expressed about the rate of growth of HIV / AIDS, namely Indonesia, including countries with growth rate of patients with HIV / AIDS is the fastest in Asia. Estimated to occur in a year one million new cases of HIV in Indonesia. Tragically 92 percent of whom are of childbearing age, including children and adolescents.

Citing a report issued by the Ministry of Health, until September 2009, reportedly had 464 Indonesian children under 15 years of positive HIV / AIDS. Most of the infected since birth of HIV positive mothers.

Number is likely higher because not necessarily all cases reported. As in other countries, in Indonesia HIV / AIDS is an iceberg phenomenon.

Infants or children with HIV / AIDS is estimated increasing rapidly. This increased prevalence of infection suspected to easily track, ie at the time during pregnancy, childbirth, or during breastfeeding. People with HIV / AIDS who did not receive antiretroviral therapy 15-45 percent of children at risk of contracting HIV / AIDS.

Based on these facts, firmly Mia Sutanto, Aimi encourage governments and the private sector, especially those in the health field, to provide support to HIV mothers to continue breastfeeding her baby.