WHO statement
8 June 2016
The
world health organization congratulates thailand and belarus for eliminating mother to child transmission
of both HIV and syphilis. WHO also applauds Armenia and the Republic of Moldova
for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, and syphilis,
respectively. “To ensure children are born healthy is to give them the best
possible start in life. It is immensely encouraging to see countries succeed in
eliminating mother-to-child transmission of these infections,” said WHO
Director-General Dr Margaret Chan. “This is a tremendous achievement – a clear
signal that the world is on the way to an AIDS-free generation. “Eliminating
mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis is key to the global effort to
combat sexually transmitted infections and to end AIDS by the year 2030.In
2014, WHO and partners developed global criteria to validate the elimination of
transmission of both infections through a rigorous review of country progress.
Last year, Cuba became the first country to be validated for having
successfully eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
Today, WHO recognizes Thailand,
Armenia, Belarus, and the Republic of Moldova for their remarkable
accomplishments. These countries have worked hard to ensure early access to prenatal
care, HIV and syphilis testing for pregnant women and their partners, and
treatment for women who test positive, as well as their babies. The provision
of reproductive health information, the engagement of communities and outreach
to marginalized populations, in a manner consistent with basic human rights and
gender equality, has helped to facilitate such access. The achievements are
testament to a key factor – the integration of maternal and child health with
sexual, reproductive health and HIV services. Integration underpins WHO’s new
health sector strategies on HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and viral
hepatitis, and is fundamental to the attainment of universal health coverage
and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals.
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