During 2015 and the first half of 2016 the country has had no records of cases of AIDS transmitted from mothers to children.
According to the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) this is the result of the implementation of programs for early detection and timely treatment for pregnant patients.
Last year, the CCSS found 41 pregnant women infected with AIDS, who were subject to antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy and childbirth and then continued with the respective therapy.
Babies, on the other hand, were closely monitored in the National Children’s Hospital, which involves the administration of antiretroviral treatments in the first month of life. Therefore, in the past 19 months there has been no vertical transmission (transmission from mother to child) of the virus in the country.
Experts stress the need for pregnant women to request the HIV/AIDS test in the areas of health where is offered for free.
In recent months, the CCSS included in its basic chart new drugs for about 84% of patients who are in treatment or who have already developed some resistance to other drugs.
The inclusions have the advantage of significantly reducing the number of mandatory daily pills, which helps patients follow the treatment indicated by the professionals in medical sciences.
During 2015, the CCSS had 5,558 patients in antiretroviral treatment, 4,553 of which were men and the remaining 1,005 were women.
This required an investment of ¢ 2,337.9 million.