Newborns across Kenya are missing out on a life-saving HIV prevention medication due to a prolonged shortage of Nevirapine, a situation that threatens the country’s progress in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of the virus. Health facilities in Kisumu and several other counties have reported persistent stock-outs, leaving healthcare providers unable to deliver the standard two-week oral treatment regimen to infants born to HIV-positive mothers.
This shortage has severely disrupted established treatment protocols designed to protect babies from acquiring HIV during birth and early infancy. Expectant mothers living with HIV are now grappling with heightened anxiety about their children’s health, as the absence of essential medication leaves newborns vulnerable during a critical window of exposure.
At major referral hospitals, medical staff have confirmed the unavailability of Nevirapine in pharmacy stocks, resulting in an urgent need to explore alternative treatments. Zidovudine, a substitute drug, is being used in the interim to provide some level of protection against vertical transmission. Health workers have implemented backup interventions in an effort to maintain continuity of care amid the supply crisis.
Kenya had made notable strides in reducing HIV infections among children by rolling out a comprehensive package of services. These include administering antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy and breastfeeding, providing supportive care to mothers and infants, and ensuring early infant diagnosis. As a result, the country had seen a significant decline in mother-to-child transmission rates, which account for over 90 percent of new childhood infections.
With effective ART access and support services, maternal transmission rates can be reduced to below five percent. However, the current drug shortage poses a serious threat to this progress, potentially reversing gains made over the years in preventing paediatric HIV infections.
The root of the shortage can be traced to a 90-day freeze in foreign aid instituted by the US government, which has suspended distribution of critical medical supplies procured through USAID and PEPFAR. This includes Nevirapine syrup, as well as other key antiretrovirals such as Dolutegravir. Viral load and early infant diagnostic commodities also essential for effective HIV care are predominantly funded through these support programs.
Without timely interventions, Kenya risks an increase in paediatric HIV infections. Nearly 13,000 new cases are recorded among infants annually, and maternal transmission remains the largest source of HIV in children under 15. The AIDS epidemic has already claimed the lives of nearly three million children globally, with another one million currently living with the virus.
Local health administrators are urging the government to identify alternative sources of funding to sustain HIV programs. While donor partnerships have been crucial, reliance on external funding is proving precarious. Stakeholders are calling for domestic resource mobilization and strategic partnerships to ensure continued access to life-saving medications for vulnerable populations.
