President Mbeki does not believe HIV leads to Aids

It is known to cut the risk of HIV/Aids transmission from mother to child by up to 50%.

South Africa's government has so far prohibited the use of the drug beyond a pilot project, arguing that it is expensive to distribute and potentially dangerous.

The government is appealing against an earlier High Court ruling that it has a constitutional duty to supply the drug.

Struggling against Aids

The Constitutional Court has now confirmed last month's judgment by the High Court, which had also ruled that state hospitals with the necessary capacity should provide Nevirapine, and that they should not wait for the results of the government's next appeal.

South Africa, with an estimated one in nine people HIV-positive, has the largest infected population in the world.

But South African President Thabo Mbeki is not convinced that HIV leads to Aids.

Aids campaigners want all pregnant women to have access to the drug.