Armenia eliminates mother-to-child transmission of HIV, UN says

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV, the United Nations said in a press release.

Also, the UN said, Belarus has eliminating mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and syphilis, while Moldova has overcome only that of syphilis.

“To ensure children are born healthy is to give them the best possible start in life. It is immensely encouraging to see countries succeed in eliminating mother-to-child transmission of these two diseases,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Margaret Chan in New York. “This is a tremendous achievement – a clear signal to other countries that elimination is possible and that the world is on the way to an AIDS-free generation.” Ending the epidemics of AIDS by 2030 is a key target of the Sustainable Development Goal on health and well-being.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been working in Armenia, Belarus and Moldova since 2010 with the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

Armenia, Belarus and Moldova have worked to ensure early universal access to free services for antenatal care, HIV and syphilis testing for pregnant women and their partners, treatment for women who test positive, early diagnosis in infants, free infant formula and community engagement. These services are provided as part of an equitable, accessible, universal health system in which maternal and child health programs are integrated with programs for HIV and sexually transmitted infections.