PAHO/WHO Pushes to Eliminate Mother-to-Child HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B in the Caribbean

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launched a major project focused on eliminating the transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B from mother to child across the Caribbean. The initiative, named “Strengthening the EMTCT Plus Strategy within the Maternal and Child Health Framework,” was unveiled during a regional webinar attended by over 250 stakeholders from the Caribbean.

This project is being supported by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and addresses a concerning rise in syphilis cases in the region. According to PAHO, congenital syphilis has shown an increase of 40% from 2016 to 2022. PAHO’s regional advisor for HIV, Sandra Jones, outlined the project’s focus on strengthening health systems, improving diagnostics, and enhancing surveillance.

In a statement issued on Monday, PAHO’s Caribbean Subregional Programme Director, Dr Juan Manuel Sotelo, said, “The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B is a key pillar of the broader elimination agenda and a top priority for PAHO. By addressing this challenge head-on, we are moving closer to a Caribbean where every mother and child can thrive and live free from these infections.”

Sotelo added that this project is part of a collective effort in the Caribbean Region. He said, Diseases do not respect borders, so if we want to eliminate these transmissions, we must work together.”