Expanding access to good practices on Elimination of Mother-To-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis (EMTCT) through SSC

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The Community of Practice on South-South Cooperation for Children (CoP-SSC4C), a joint initiative by UNICEF, UNOSSC and IPC-IG, is organizing its fourth thematic webinar. The objective of this event is to discuss and share ideas on how we can increase access to successful EMTCT practices through South-South Cooperation.

As targets of SDG3, to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 and the elimination of HIV and other communicable diseases should remain priorities on the agenda for global health development. Over 90% of new HIV infections among infants and young children occur through MTCT. Successful practices of EMTCT have managed to reduce the transmission risk from 20-45% to less than 2%. Several countries have undertaken great measures to achieve the WHO’s certificate for eliminating MTCT of HIV & Syphilis; In 2015 Cuba was the first country in the world to achieve the certificate, and in 2016 Thailand followed as the first country in Asia. Most recently Malaysia achieved it in October 2018. 

The aim of this webinar was to present and discuss ways to expand the access to knowledge and experiences of EMTCT through SSC. By means of knowledge exchange and sharing good practices, SSC can be used as a vehicle to reach the SDG targets and improve health development in countries of the Global South. 

Presenters:

Dr. Dorothy Mbori-Ngacha, UNICEF HIV/AIDS, NYHQ 

Dr. Sarawut Boonsuk, Director of Health Promotion Regional Center, Department of Health, MoPH, Thailand

Dr. Anita Suleiman, Head of HIV/STI/Hepatitis C Sector, Disease Control Division, Ministry of Health, Malaysia

Dr. Mariame Sylla, Chief, Health and Nutrition, Programme Section, UNICEF South Africa

Discussant:

Dr. Melanie Taylor, Medical Officer, World Health Organization

Moderator:

Ms. Laurie Gulaid, Senior Health Specialist, UNICEF ESARO

 

This webinar was the fourth of the CoP-SSC4C Webinar Series, which was organised by UNICEF, IPC-IG and UNOSSC. Please join the Community of Practice on SSC for Children (CoP-SSC4C) if you are interested in following the most recent discussions on the topic.