Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE Ministry of Health has strongly condemned a misleading report of reducing the number of HIV tests for pregnant women from five to two tests, saying that the tests are being carried out three times throughout the pregnancy.
Following the incident, the ministry has warned people without health professions and unauthorized people to stop immediately or else face strict legal actions.
“Stern measures will be taken against those who disobey or continue to provide incorrect health information to the community,” the ministry warned in a statement issued by the Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr Grace Maghembe.
She said the guidelines for HIV testing for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, which aim to identify infections to protect the child, are based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), as well as the results of various studies, national strategies, and WHO guidelines.
“The ministry discovered the existence of false information about reducing HIV testing for pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers from five to two tests from conception to 18 months to prevent transmission to newborns. This information is false.
Through the statement, he said WHO has recommended HIV testing to be done three times from conception and even during breastfeeding.
“In this context, Tanzania’s strategies and guidelines, and according to the Ministry of Health document of June 2025, direct that the first HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis testing be done at the first clinic visit for pregnant women and their partners.
Adding, she said, “The second test is done in the presence of the 32nd to 36th week of pregnancy, and the third test is within three months after delivery, and pregnant and lactating women who are in the risk group of infection are provided with testing services every three months and preventive medication (PrEP).
Dr Maghembe said the testing is sufficient to detect HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases to prevent transmission from mother to child.
She stressed that these services are provided free of charge, even during this time of declining donor funding; these services continue to be provided as usual due to investments made by the government through domestic sources.
Dr Maghembe also noted that for the year 2024/2025, the government provided an amount of 141.9bn/- and has allocated an amount of 158bn/- for AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis services, including facilitating HIV testing services for pregnant and lactating women.
“The government calls on all mothers to go for testing as soon as they feel pregnant to ‘protect the child and eradicate HIV, syphilis and hepatitis,” stressed Dr. Maghembe.
She also urged the Tanzanian citizens to ignore misleading information from inaccurate sources.
For More News And Analysis About Tanzania Follow Africa-Press
