Yvonne Chaka
Chaka, a popular South African singer, pleaded at the
16th International AIDS Conference in Toronto for
improved access to malaria prevention for HIV-positive
pregnant women in developing countries. She argued
that without antimalaria drugs, HIV-positive
pregnant women are much more likely to coinfect their babies
with both diseases.
"Having HIV or
malaria can be deadly, but having both at the same
time is particularly dangerous. If you are pregnant, it can
lead to serious complications for the mother as well
as increasing the chance that the baby will be born
underweight and possibly HIV-positive," said Chaka
Chaka. "HIV antenatal services should always include
malaria treatment and prevention."
In addition to
the risk HIV-positive pregnant women face, recent studies
have found that malaria can increase the HIV viral load
in HIV-positive people, meaning an increased risk of
transmitting HIV while infected with both. (The
Advocate)