Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis in Asia and the Pacific

The Consolidated strategic information guidelines for viral hepatitis summarize and simplify the overall approach proposed by WHO to collect, analyse, disseminate and use strategic information on viral hepatitis at local, subnational, national and international levels.

The document describes the use of strategic information at various stages of the response in the context of strengthening broader health information systems. Strategic information can be defined as data collected at all service delivery and administrative levels to inform policy and programme decisions.

The Regional Framework for the Triple Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis in Asia and the Pacific 2018-2030 upholds the vision that every infant should be free of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis. The framework presents an integrated and coordinated appoach towards the goal of achieving and sustaining triple EMTCT, emphasizing the principle of people-centred care and a human-rights-based approach for all women, children and their families, by promoting collaboration among programmes addressing RMNCH, HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections and immunization. Triple EMTCT interventions accessed through RMNCH services include: preventing unintended pregnancy; early antenatal care to allow effective case detection during pregnancy; rapid diagnosis; timely and appropriate treatment in pregnancy as well as during and after childbirth; and partner testing and treatment. Closing gaps, avoiding duplication and identifying missed opportunities will improve the quality and efficiency of service delivery and result in better outcomes.

The National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS (2014-2018) guides the national efforts to maintain the low prevalence of HIV in the Maldives. The elimination of mother to child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis in the Maldives is an important public health milestone reflecting effective and equitable national policies and services that place people first. Universal access to antenatal care and screening for syphilis and HIV is ensured through an extensive network of public sector hospitals, health centres and private health facilities. Prevention of MTCT of HIV and syphilis infection is given special attention within the Reproductive Health (RH) programme. An important target is to screen 100% of women attending ANC clinics for HIV and syphilis.

This operational guidance sets out basic principles related to HIV and infant feeding in emergency settings, and the actions that government and other stakeholders can take to prepare for emergencies.

Start Free, Stay Free, AIDS Free is a collaborative framework to accelerate the end of the AIDS epidemic among children, adolescents and young women by 2020.

The Regional Framework for the Triple Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B and Syphilis in Asia and the Pacific 2018-2030 suggests a coordinated approach to delivering these interventions using the shared maternal, newborn and child health platform to achieve elimination.

UNICEF's new report, Women: At the Heart of the HIV Response for Children, highlights the sobering fact that, contrary to popular opinion, the AIDS crisis is far from over.

Breastfeeding is among the most effective ways to protect maternal and child health and promote healthy growth and optimal development in early childhood.

This document has been designed to provide a framework to support local and national STI prevalence studies. The aim of these studies is to understand the burden of disease of Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), two priority STIs that can cause adverse birth outcomes. For this, the objective is to epidemiologically describe the prevalence of these two infections among pregnant women and, by proxy, the general population in the country.

The consultation was convened in Malaysia (Putrajaya, 27 to 28 February 2018) by the Malaysian Ministry of Health and WHO to discuss potential approaches for validation of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B inviting national and international experts.