The ETMI Plus Initiative aims to achieve and sustain the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and Chagas disease as a public health problem. Based on the experiences and lessons learned by HIV and syphilis MTCT programs, immunization programs, and vector control programs, countries are urged to take advantage of the ETMI Plus Initiative framework as an opportunity for the integration of efforts and services to advance towards the elimination of these diseases, as the quality and coverage of maternal and child health systems increase.
Since Member States of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) committed to the ETMI Initiative, 8 countries and territories were validated for the double elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/syphilis: Cuba, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica in 2020.
Despite the progress observed towards the elimination of HIV MTCT, and the successful incorporation of hepatitis B and Chagas disease into EMTCT programs in the Region, the situation of syphilis and congenital syphilis is worrying in the region, and the path towards elimination requires additional efforts and renewed commitments from the programs and other partners involved.
To contribute to this effort, PAHO is launching the Virtual Course "Accelerating the elimination of congenital syphilis: ensuring diagnosis and treatment in the Americas Region" through the PAHO Virtual Campus of Public Health (CVSP). The course, aimed at primary health care professionals and other stakeholders, aims to disseminate the latest recommendations from PAHO/WHO for screening, diagnosis, and clinical management of syphilis in pregnant women for the elimination of congenital syphilis.
Objectives
1. Launch and demonstration of the virtual course "Accelerating the elimination of congenital syphilis".
2. Presentation of the ETMI Plus Progress Report: analysis of 10 years of ETMI Plus Initiative implementation in the Region.
3. Share countries experiences and good practices on EMTCT Plus, with a focus on congenital syphilis.
4. Disseminate updated guidelines and regulations for the validation of EMTCT.
Recording
Date and Time
May 11th, 2023 - 10:00am – 12:00pm (EST, Washington, DC)
Agenda
10 min. Welcome
- Dr. Massimo Ghidinelli. Director Communicable Disease Prevention, Control, and Elimination Department. PAHO/WHO
- Dr. James Fitzgerald, Director Health Systems and Services. PAHO/WHO
- Dr. Rhonda Sealey-Thomas, CMO, Ministry of Health. Antigua and Barbuda
- Dean Chambliss, Sub-Regional Director, PAHO/WHO Caribbean Office
15 min. Presentation of the Progress Report of the EMTCT Plus Initiative
- Leandro Sereno, PAHO/WHO
15 min. Update of technical guides and tools for validation of EMTCT
- Sandra Jones, PAHO/WHO
20 min. Country experiences and good practices:
(Moderator: Hortencia Peralta, PAHO/WHO)
1- Subnational certification as a strategy for elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV/syphilis in Brazil (10 min.)
- Dr. Angelica Miranda, Ministry of Health, Brazil
2- Progress and challenges in eliminating congenital syphilis:
a. Jamaica (7 min.) Jamaica
b. Perú (7 min.) Peru
20 min. Launch of the Course "Accelerating the elimination of congenital syphilis"
Moderator: Rodolfo Gomez Ponce de Leon, CLAP OPS/OMS
1- Role of PAHO's Virtual Campus for Public Health in accelerating elimination (5 min.)
Gabriel Listovsky, PAHO Virtual Campus
2- Presentation of course modules, and demonstration of the platform (15 min.)
Rodolfo Gomez Ponce de Leon, CLAP PAHO/WHO
15 min. Questions & Answers
All
Final comments and Closing remarks
- Dr. Suzanne Serruya. Director, CLAP PAHO/WHO
- Dr. Ruben Mayorga. Unit Chief HIV, STI Hepatitis and Tuberculosis, PAHO/WHO