November 14, 2024 | 10:00 am EST
The EMTCT Plus initiative aims to achieve and sustain the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection, syphilis, Chagas disease and perinatal hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection as public health threats.
In 2015, Cuba became the first country in the world, the Americas, and the Caribbean to be validated by the WHO for eliminating dual mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Since then, ten additional countries and Caribbean territories (Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, Montserrat, and St. Kitts and Nevis) in the Caribbean have been certified. Reports from Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines were submitted to WHO in October 2023, and approval is pending.
Despite the progress made over the years, several gaps and challenges remain common among countries in the region. These gaps and challenges impact the fundamental requirements for EMTCT Plus validation. To achieve and sustain elimination, it is essential to ensure that quality diagnostic services, primary prevention, and treatment are accessible to pregnant and postpartum women, alongside a robust health information system capable of effectively capturing and monitoring cases.
One of the criteria required for certification is that an adequate surveillance system (paper or electronic) is in place.
Caribbean countries have been using the Perinatal Information System (SIP) for many years.
With the implementation of SIP-Plus (web version of the SIP), an automatic reporting tool was developed that allows easy calculation of several indicators using the SIP databases in the countries of the region. It should be noted that countries that choose to use the SIP Plus can have the information online, as soon as it is recorded in the medical record. The adoption of this tool facilitates the capacity of countries to meet the demand for the indicators required by the ETMI Plus initiative.
Among others, this tool facilitates the countries' capacity to meet the demand for the indicators required by the EMTCT Plus initiative.
GOALS
- Provide a summary of SIP Plus which was adapted for the Caribbean.
- Promote the use of SIP Plus as an appropriate surveillance tool for the data collection, monitoring and follow-up of cases for EMTCT Plus.
- Allow for countries utilizing SIP Plus data base to share their experience, including the use of monitoring and evaluating EMTCT Plus strategy.
- Explore opportunities for cooperation among English-speaking Caribbean countries for the implementation of SIP Plus at the national level.
PARTICIPANTS:
- MCH Coordinators/Advisors or individuals at national level responsible for Maternal and Child Health
- Nurses (Public Health Nurses, midwives, etc. ) from MCH, & Labour and Deliver
- Epidemiologist/Surveillance officers
- Health care providers - Immunization in all countries
- Decision-makers of the ministerial programs of the countries corresponding to the thematic area (maternal health, perinatal health, EMTCT).
Simultaneous interpretation into Spanish and English will be provided