Month: December 2021

Brazzaville, Geneva, Nairobi – Botswana has become the first high-burden country to be certified for achieving an important milestone on the path to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV by the World Health Organization (WHO).

High-burden HIV countries are defined as those with more than 2% of pregnant women living with the virus. Botswana has achieved the “silver tier” status, which moves it closer to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. WHO awards this certification to countries which have brought the mother-to-child HIV transmission rate to under 5 %; provided antenatal care and antiretroviral treatment to more than 90 % of pregnant women; and achieved an HIV case rate of fewer than 500 per 100,000 live births.

“This is a huge accomplishment for a country that has one of the most severe HIV epidemics in the world – Botswana demonstrates that an AIDS-free generation is possible,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. “This groundbreaking milestone is a big step forward in ending AIDS on the continent and shows how visionary political leadership aligned with public health priorities can save lives. I look forward to other African countries also reaching this goal.”

Globally, 15 countries have been certified for eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission. None of them had an epidemic as large as Botswana. The country’s feat to date on its journey to elimination is the result of a national response strategy spanning two decades. In 1999 and facing an HIV prevalence rate as high as 30%, Botswana initiated an aggressive programme to prevent mother-to-child transmission.

“Botswana’s pathfinding accomplishment demonstrates the remarkable progress that can be achieved when the needs of mothers living with HIV and their children are prioritized,” said Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director. “Children are among the groups left furthest behind in the HIV response. Addressing this inequality and preventing new HIV infections in children is critical if we are to end AIDS. Political commitment, strong leadership and the hard work of dedicated health care workers and communities in Botswana have delivered impressive results.”

Women living with HIV who do not receive antiretroviral (ARV) medicine have a 15–45% chance of transmitting the virus to their children during pregnancy, labour, delivery or breastfeeding. That risk drops to less than 5% if treatment is given to both mothers and children throughout the stages when transmission can occur. Botswana quickly achieved national ARV coverage before going on to implement increasingly effective regimens, following WHO guidance.

In 2013, Botswana became one of the first countries in the world to implement the so-called ‘Option B+’, a plan for treating all pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV with a highly effective lifelong triple antiretroviral treatment regimen at the time of diagnosis.

Mohamed Fall, UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, asserted that the country’s progress could serve as an example for others.

“We applaud Botswana for this remarkable achievement, which serves as inspiration to other countries in Eastern and Southern Africa,” said Mr Fall. “The progress on prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in this region is truly a public health success, with more than 1.7 million new infections in children averted since 2010. We look forward to congratulating other countries very soon and continuing the journey to full and sustained elimination over time.”

The global validation criteria and processes date to 2015, when UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO and other partners created the Global Validation Advisory Committee to standardize the measurement of achievements for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. In 2017 and in recognition of the achievements made by countries with a high burden of HIV that were demonstrating significant and sustained reductions in the mother-to-child transmission rate, new Path to Elimination criteria were introduced. The elimination agenda has broadened to a “triple elimination” of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.

Botswana is now updating its guidance regarding syphilis and will expand its elimination objectives moving forward.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

Mauritius marked World AIDS Day 2021 on 01 December 2021 at the Yves Cantin community hospital, Black River under the theme “End inequalities. End AIDS. End pandemic”. This year’s theme is of utmost importance at a point in time where the COVID-19 pandemic has further widened inequalities among the world populations.

The HIV/AIDS national campaign was launched by the Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr Hon Kailesh Kumar Jagutpal in the presence of the WHO Representative, Dr Laurent Musango, the National HIV/AIDS Coordinator, Dr Mungala Devi Soyjauda, Mrs S. Kalasapatan-Chellen, Ag Deputy Permanent Secretary, Dr A. Dinassing, Director Public Health and other personalities.

Indeed, 40 years after the first HIV cases were reported, AIDS remains a major public health concern due to unequal access to care and the situation has worsened with the COVID-19 pandemic as people living with HIV appear to be at elevated risk for virus-related illness and death.

Dr Hon. K.K. Jagutpal inaugurated a new caravan in view of strengthening HIV Screening in the community before launching the National HIV/AIDS campaign. The campaign this year is focusing on HIV Screening and Counselling Day islandwide to allow the maximum number of persons to know their status. Other activities include intensive sensitization and awareness programmes on national television and radio, and to reach the adolescents and young adults, virtual HIV prevention sessions by psychologists are also planned while HIV testing and counselling in the community are being organized with the close collaboration of NGOs and the Health Ministry.

One remarkable public health success is the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission across the globe. Data submitted by countries are evaluated by WHO before certification of elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission is issued. “In this regard, Mauritius needs to make more effort in the collection of the data on mother-to-child HIV transmission to be able to be evaluated for certification by WHO,” said Dr L. Musango.

The WHO Representative advocated for equal access to HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care, including COVID-19 vaccinations and services. The close collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the local NGOs, namely Ailes liberté Espoir et Sollidarité (AILES) and Prevention Information et Lutte Contre le SIDA (PILS) was highly appreciated. To recall, NGOs have been playing a key role in the chain to ensure essential health services during the lockdown and curfew. This has enabled the home distribution of Anti Retro Viral medicine to those under treatment to prevent issues related to immunocompromised and increased vulnerability vis à vis COVID-19. Concerted actions can help to confront inequity and improve health.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa