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

This publication summarizes existing evidence on the use of antiretroviral drugs for preventing mother-to child transmission of HIV and makes recommendations on the choice of regimens in the context of expanding access to antiretroviral treatment.

On October 20, 2004, 29 representatives from three countries and more than a dozen international and supranational organizations and hospitals attended the Consultation on Accelerating Support for Paediatric HIV Care, Support and Treatment in Thailand and Neighboring Countries within the Context of the 3 x 5 Initiative.

Now that there are cheap and effective interventions to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), programs are rapidly being planned and introduced to make these activities more widely available in developing countries.

UNICEF EAPRO convened the UN Regional Taskforce meeting in Bangkok from 27-29 August 2003 as part of ongoing efforts to support countries to respond strategically and effectively to HIV/AIDS, to share the lessons learned between countries and from clinical trials and programme initiatives, and to meet the Millennium Development Goals, and the Declaration of Commitments arising from the 2001 UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS.

The South East Asia and the Pacific UN Regional Taskforce on Prevention of Mother- to- Child Transmission (PMCT) convened its 3rd meeting in Beijing, People Republic of China from 23-24 June 2002.

It is generally agreed upon that failing to address the issues of PMTCT (prevention of mother-to-child transmission) dramatically increases the morbidity and mortality among children affected by HIV/AIDS. Thus, PMTCT has become the priority worldwide for reducing the numbers of HIV-infected children.

On behalf of the UN Regional Taskforce on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, UNICEF EAPRO convened the 3rd Regional Taskforce meeting on 7-8 March 2001 in Bangkok.