Cuba becomes first country to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission

hiv-aidsOn Tuesday Cuba became the first country to be validated by the World Health Organization as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. The announcement was made during a press conference at the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization Headquarters in Washington D.C this morning.

Cuba’s Public Health Minister, Dr. Roberto Morales Ojeda, attributed the Caribbean island’s success to a healthcare system that reaches all people and that does not discriminate. He also pointed to the value of community and multi-sectorial participation.

“A country with scant resources has been able to provide healthcare for all,” Morales Ojeda noted. “Affordability, universal access and universal health coverage are among the main elements required to achieve this result.”

Dr. María Isela Lantero, Chief of Cuba’s STI, HIV and AIDS National Program, emphasised the value of making all health services available in clinics.
“We have this result because of the integration of our programmes and coalescing around a common goal. We did not approach this from a vertical approach but rather from the point of view of providing universal primary healthcare,” Isela Lantero explained during the panel discussion that followed the announcement.

Other Caribbean successes are on the way

Dr. César Núñez, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Latin America hoped that the achievement would be a catalyst for other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.

“This is the only region where this commitment to eliminate HIV transmission to children was signed at the levels of heads of state. I would like to see Cuba’s success have a snowballing effect and make it possible for all the countries of the Americas to achieve this goal,” Núñez said.

As part of the Regional Initiative for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Congenital Syphilis in Latin America and the Caribbean, countries have worked to ensure early access to prenatal care, HIV and syphilis testing for both pregnant women and their partners, treatment for women who test positive and their babies, caesarean deliveries and substitution of breastfeeding. These services are provided as part of an equitable, accessible and universal health system in which maternal and child health programs are integrated with programs for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.

The Caribbean currently has one of the world’s highest rates of treatment coverage to prevent HIV transmission to babies (95%). At least six other Caribbean countries are on track to be certified as having eliminated HIV transmission from mothers to children this year. National validation processes are underway throughout the region to confirm reported rates.

Cuba is the first country in the world to request that WHO validate its elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. The process included, among other steps, the preparation of a national report and a country visit by the regional committee of independent experts which presented its report to a WHO global committee. The global committee met last week to analyze that report.

“Cuba’s success demonstrates that universal access and universal health coverage are feasible and indeed are the key to success, even against challenges as daunting as HIV,” said PAHO Director, Dr Carissa F. Etienne. “Cuba’s achievement today provides inspiration for other countries to advance towards elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis”.

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8 Comments

  1. Is that so
    July 3, 2015

    Where is FETD on this one. His tongue tie man!

  2. July 2, 2015

    Obviously this kind of success is the result of dedication and hard work on the part of health care professionals and their support team. It raise hopes that the battle will be won on behalf of the children on other islands and throughout the Caribbean.

    HIV is not the only sexually transmitted disease that threatens our well being but it is the worst and the greatest challenge. If everybody would live by the moral code God has given us in the New Testament
    which is abstinence before marriage and chastity after marriage AIDS would be eliminated in a generation for both adults and children. This is not just a “religious” thing. It is the only thing that works (when it is applied) 100% of the time!

    Sincerely, Rev. Donald Hill. Evangelist. (Pastoral Counselor Certificate)

  3. Ras B
    July 1, 2015

    Could one see some evidence?

    • July 2, 2015

      If WHO is right the evidence will be forth coming!

      Sincerely, Don Hill.

  4. fantastic4
    July 1, 2015

    Dominica’s Ministry of Health should jump on board and replicate the successes from Cuba.

  5. grell
    July 1, 2015

    Cuba is a communist island which will be a leading power in the caribbean with tranparent investment,and the leader is all about the well being of his people.Not the incompetent leader and abuser we have in Dominica,Congratulations to Cuba.Today Potus WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE REOPENING OF THEIR Relationships once again.

    • original mahaut man
      July 1, 2015

      Cant you not make a comment without any political comments >You a fool Grell .

  6. budman
    July 1, 2015

    Cuba still the world leader in medicine

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