This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
Phenny Awiti, a Kenyan woman living with HIV, has spoken out about breastfeeding her son, addressing concerns that she could infect him with the disease.
Awiti, who was diagnosed with HIV in high school, has an undetectable viral load, meaning she has less than 20 copies of the virus in her system, which cannot be transferred to her child through breastfeeding.
She exclusively breastfed her two daughters and is doing the same with her son, Kwe, who is a few months old.
‘Yes, we are exclusively breastfeeding. This is the most asked question in my DM. I appreciate all the concerns and I am aware of the mothers that are hesitant to breastfeed because they are HIV Positive,' Awiti wrote in response to fans' concerns.
‘I breastfed all my two girls, and I am doing it with Kwe, because I have undetectable viral load. Meaning I cannot infect the child with HIV through breastfeeding because I have less than 20 copies of the virus in my system, which cannot be transferred. Basically am HIV negative but HIV lives in me, that’s my explanation in a lay man’s term,' she added.
Awiti also revealed that her baby is on ARVs syrup called Nevirapine, and septrin as well, and that they are following a strict breastfeeding schedule, with exclusive breastfeeding for six months before introducing mixed feeding.
