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

Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention for Women and their Babies: A treatment literacy guide for pregnant women and mothers living with HIV is intended for use by networks of women living with HIV, women’s groups, peer educators and others wishing to provide information and guidance to support women living with HIV through the decisions they will need to make before, during and after their pregnancy.

These guidelines outline the public health approach to strengthening and expanding current testing practices for HBV and HCV infection, and are intended for use across age groups and populations.

As countries move towards ending the HIV, STI and hepatitis epidemics, there are increasing needs and opportunities for strengthening the use of strategic information for these programmes.

The 10th Asia-Pacific United Nations Prevention of Parent-To-Child Transmission (PPTCT) of HIV and Syphilis Task Force meeting was held from 15 to 17 September 2015 in Beijing, China.

The dual goals of elimination of parent-to-child transmission (EPTCT) of HIV and syphilis areaspirational, although challenging for countries to achieve.

Every year, approximately 1.5 million HIV-positive women give birth. If they are unable to access medicine and services, they run the risk of transmitting HIV to their babies during pregnancy, delivery and the breastfeeding period.

This report reviews progress and challenges in the global response to reduce the burden of diseases in the context of the Millennium Development Goals, and looks ahead to identify the strategies and approaches that will be needed to accelerate progress during the new development era.

This report by UNDP, UNICEF and UNAIDS responds to data which shows that new infections in the long-running HIV epidemics in Asia, such as in Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand, are on the increase among intimate partners of high risk populations.

In more than 50% of cases, untreated syphilis in pregnant women can result in numerous adverse outcomes of pregnancy including stillbirths, premature or low birth weight infants, neonatal deaths or birth of a congenital syphilitic baby. Congenital syphilis is an easily preventable and curable disease, which can be eliminated through effective screening of pregnant women for syphilis and adequate treatment of those infected.

The March 2015 meeting went beyond the usual three-year forecast by including a model of new ARVs that will be needed up to 2024.