BVI yet to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis?

Belize, Jamaica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines are the latest countries in the Caribbean to receive certification from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis (EMTCT). 

WHO praised Belize for integrating primary disease prevention and treatment into maternal and child health services.  Jamaica received commendations for its civil society organiz

sations’ commitment to human rights and St. Vincent and the Grenadines was lauded for investing in robust national laboratory structures. 

The BVI has not received certification to date and the territory’s progress in this area isn’t clear. However, Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Bermuda all received recognition a few years ago. 

Other Caribbean countries on the list are Cuba — that made history by becoming the first country in the world to achieve the dual elimination of HIV and syphilis — Antigua and Barbuda, St Kitts and Nevis, and Dominica.

To meet elimination targets, countries focused on strengthening prevention and treatment services within primary health care and in maternal and child health, updating guidelines, ensuring the effective screening of pregnant women, monitoring cases and following-up with HIV and syphilis-exposed infants.

Globally, 19 countries and territories have now been certified for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and/or syphilis, with 11 of them located in the Americas. 

New HIV infections among children in the Caribbean decreased by 25% between 2010 and 2022. During that period, annual notified cases declined from 2,000 to 1,500. 

Reported cases of congenital syphilis in the English-speaking Caribbean now stand at 36 cases per 100,000 newborns, below the goal of no more than 50 cases per 100,000 newborns.