OVERVIEW

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B remains a significant public health challenge globally. These infections cause considerable morbidity and mortality among pregnant women and young children, with profound social, psychological, and economic consequences for affected families. This concept note outlines a comprehensive strategy for the triple elimination of MTCT (EMTCT) of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B, leveraging proven, cost-effective, and scalable prevention, testing, and treatment strategies. This initiative aligns with global health goals and aims to integrate EMTCT services into existing maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (MNCAH) systems.

This concept note seek provides a platform (webinar) to discuss structured approaches to achieving the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B. with strong emphasis on the need for integration, strong health systems, community involvement, and sustained political commitment to overcoming these challenges and achieve the set goals.

GOAL

The primary goal of this initiative is to provide a platform for meaningful engagement of stakeholders to achieve the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B by ensuring universal access to effective prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services. This will be accomplished through the integration of EMTCT interventions into national health systems, robust data management, and the promotion of human rights, gender equality, and community engagement.

The Society for AIDS in Africa (SAA) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), given the available data, are organizing a webinar on Triple Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B. This will also be an opportunity to share the synopsis of the ICASA 2023 report and to have an overview of the mandate of the Society for AIDS in Africa as organizers of International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA).

OBJECTIVES

1. Enhance Service Delivery: Integrate EMTCT services into maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health (MNCAH) platforms to ensure comprehensive care for pregnant women and their newborns.
2. Strengthen Health Systems: Improve health information systems for better data collection, monitoring, and evaluation.
3. Policy and Guideline Development: Update national guidelines to recommend the implementation of triple EMTCT and ensure consistency across public and private healthcare facilities.
4. Capacity Building: Train healthcare workers on the latest EMTCT protocols and strategies.
5. Community Engagement: Involve affected communities in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of EMTCT services to ensure responsiveness to their needs.
6. Quality Assurance: Enhance laboratory quality and data management systems to support accurate diagnosis and treatment.
7. Advocacy and Political Commitment: Raise political leadership and government investment to sustain EMTCT efforts.

 

CHALLENGES

1. Resource Limitations: Insufficient funding and resources to support comprehensive EMTCT programs.
2. Data Quality: Variability in data collection and management across regions, leading to gaps in monitoring and evaluation.
3. Healthcare Worker Training: Inadequate training and retention of healthcare workers knowledgeable in EMTCT protocols.
4. Policy Implementation: Inconsistencies in policy implementation across different regions and healthcare sectors.
5. Stigma and Discrimination: Social stigma and discrimination associated with HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B hinder access to and uptake of EMTCT services.
6. Integration into Existing Systems: Challenges in integrating EMTCT services into existing structures without disrupting other essential health services.
7. Community Engagement: Ensuring meaningful involvement of affected communities in EMTCT initiatives.
8. Insufficient laboratory infrastructure and diagnostic capacity.

 

TARGET AUDIENCE

1. National and Regional Health Authorities: Policymakers and health officials responsible for implementing and monitoring EMTCT programs.
2. Healthcare Providers: Doctors, nurses, midwives, and other health workers involved in the delivery of maternal and child health services.
3. Community-Based Organizations (CBOs): Groups that can facilitate community engagement and education on EMTCT.
4. National AIDS Programmes
5. Affected Communities: Pregnant women, families, and individuals living with HIV, Syphilis, or Hepatitis B.
6. Educational Institutions

SPEAKERS

AGENDA

WEBINAR OF TRIPLE ELIMINATION OF MOTHER-TO-CHILD TRANSMISSION OF HIV, SYPHILIS AND HEPATITIS B AND SYNOPSIS OF ICASA 2023 REPORT
Time	Topic/s for Discussion	Discussion Lead
13:00 – 13:05	Welcome Address and opening remarks	Hon. Dr. David Pagwesese Parirenyatwa, SAA President/ICASA 2023 President
13:05 – 13:15	Presentation on the Society for AIDS in Africa	Luc Armand Bodea, ICASA Director
13:15 – 13:35	Progress report and road map on the triple EMTCT of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B in the MENA/EM	Shirley Mark Prabhu, UNICEF and Muhammad Shahid Jamil, WHO
13:35 – 13:45	ICASA 2023 Report	Prof. Mohamed Chakroun, SAA Vice President
13:45 – 14:10	Discussions and Q & A	Hosts, Panelists and Participants
14:10 – 14:15	Concluding Remarks	SAA/UNICEF/WHO