Belize, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines are the latest countries in the Americas to receive certification from the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT).
The achievement is the result of collaborative efforts in each country, along with technical cooperation from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), supported by UNICEF and UNAIDS.
EVENT RECORDING
Actions invested by the countries to eliminate Mother-to-Child Transmission
- Establishment and integration of Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) services into maternal and child health services.
- Continuous strengthening of primary prevention and treatment services for pregnant women, including testing, detection, and treatment of sero-positive women for HIV and syphilis.
- Development and implementation of monitoring and evaluation tools for EMTCT strategies.
- Ongoing training of healthcare providers across both private and public health sectors.
- Introduction and promotion of vaccination programs, such as Hepatitis B Vaccine birth dose.
- Strengthening of country laboratories to support diagnosis and testing for HIV, syphilis, and other related conditions. Additionaly, utilization of rapid testing and online databases for efficient service delivery.
- Establishment of mechanisms for follow-up care for seropositive pregnant women, partners, and exposed infants.
- Integration of EMTCT services into primary health care facilities and private clinics providing antenatal services.
- Strengthening partnerships with private sector partners and aligning initiatives to ensure continuity and sustainability.
- Commitment to maintaining EMTCT services during challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and national disasters.
- Investment in training of healthcare workers and infrastructure to support the provision of EMTCT services.
Videos
Belize achieves EMTCT HIV & Syphilis certification
Jamaica achieves EMTCT HIV & Syphilis certification
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines achieves EMTCT HIV & Syphilis certification
Story
Photo credit: PAHO
Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and Syphilis in Belize
Stephannie Lizama traveled from the village of San Lazaro to the regional health center in Orange Walk, Belize, that morning. At 31 weeks pregnant with her second child, she had been experiencing some sickness and was keen to receive her prenatal checks. After arriving at the maternal and child health clinic, Stephannie participated in a group talk with other pregnant women about the importance of prenatal screening for a variety of health issues, including HIV and Syphilis. She then had a physical exam, followed by a blood test at the on-site laboratory.
The blood test is a priority for Stephanie. “If I find out I have HIV or Syphilis, I can make sure the baby is ok,” she said. Because it can be transmitted to the baby and cause complications. That is what I want to avoid.”
Belize, alongside Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, is one of three Caribbean countries to receive World Health Organization (WHO) certification of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis this year.
This achievement follows more than a decade of work to strengthen primary prevention and treatment services for mother and child health, in line with the countries’ commitment to the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Strategy and Plan of Action for the Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and congenital syphilis in the region.
The first thing we do when a woman comes into the clinic is run a rapid pregnancy test,” Sharon Cooper Espinosa, a public health nurse at the Matron Roberts Polyclinic in Belize city, said. “Once we establish that a lady is pregnant, we order labs for HIV, Syphilis, hemoglobin, among others and the woman is asked to return in two weeks.”
Photo credit: PAHO
