Policy requirements for HIV testing and counseling of infants
and young children in health facilities Currently, many
opportunities to diagnose HIV infection in infants and children
are missed within the health system. These opportunities for
diagnosis of HIV arise at facilities providing services for
antenatal care, prevention of mother-to-child transmission
(PMTCT) of HIV, immunization, nutrition, inpatient admissions
and within programmes for other vulnerable children. It is
estimated that only 8% of HIV-exposed infants received early
virological testing in 2008. Analysis of international cohort
data confirms that very few HIV-infected infants are started on
antiretroviral therapy, and those who do receive it, are started
when they are already very sick, largely due to a delay in HIV
testing. The benefits of expanded access to HIV testing and
counselling for infants and children are numerous and include
the following: - early identification of HIV-infected infants
and children as a first step to treatment