PAHO/WHO Launches New Project to Strengthen Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B in the Caribbean

The Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) today officially launched the project “Strengthening the EMTCT Plus Strategy within the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Framework” during a regional webinar that was well attended by 250 stakeholders from across the Caribbean. The project, launched with support from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, represents a significant investment in the health of Caribbean mothers and children. This timely initiative comes amid a troubling resurgence of syphilis and congenital syphilis in the Region of the Americas. According to data reported to PAHO, cases of congenital syphilis increased by 40% between 2016 and 2022, reaching more than 36,000 cases in 2022. Nineteen of the 26 reporting countries noted increases in syphilis among pregnant women between 2015 and 2022. Despite ongoing commitments to eliminate the mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and congenital Chagas disease, the rising burden of syphilis threatens recent progress and places maternal and child health at significant risk.

The project was officially declared launched by Ms. Sandra Jones, PAHO/WHO Regional Advisor for HIV, STIs, TB and Viral Hepatitis, who outlined that it focuses on three strategic outputs:

1. Strengthening MCH leadership and capacity to support the attainment and maintenance of EMTCT Plus goals in the Caribbean;
2. Enhancing national laboratory systems to improve diagnostics and ensure timely access to quality treatment;
3. Improving surveillance systems for robust monitoring and evaluation of EMTCT Plus implementation at the national level.

Dr. Juan Manuel Sotelo, PAHO/WHO Caribbean Subregional Programme Director (a.i), emphasised the organisation’s deep commitment: “The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B is a key pillar of the broader elimination agenda and a top priority for PAHO. By addressing this challenge head-on, we are moving closer to a Caribbean where every mother and child can thrive and live free from these infections.”

Ms. Helen Royer, Director of Human and Social Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, speaking on behalf  of the  Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat, highlighted the urgency and relevance of the initiative: She emphasised  that this  project was  a very timely and relevant project to the CARICOM Community and  signaled  a significant  advancement in our public health efforts and our shared commitment to safeguarding the health and well-being of mothers, infants, and future generations across the Caribbean. “This project comes at a critical time. As a community, we are not only aware of the gaps and challenges that remain in our region’s fight against HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, but we are taking steps to minimise their impact through increased prevention and advocacy efforts.” Ms. Ines Tofalo, Trust Fund and Project Management Specialist at the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) which manages the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, reinforced the value of a collective approach:“There is nothing more catalytic to addressing mother-to-child transmission of infectious diseases than collective regional action. Diseases do not respect borders, so if we want to eliminate these transmissions, we must work together.”