Health Ministry: No mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis in BVI
The Ministry of Health has moved to defend the BVI’s track record, stating that the territory has been successfully preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis for the past five years.
The Ministry’s defence of the territory’s reduction efforts for these two deadly diseases come amid reports that Belize, Jamaica, and St Vincent and the Grenadines are the latest countries in the Caribbean to be commended for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
The BVI was not named on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) list and when BVI News contacted the Ministry, Chief Nursing Officer Jascinth Hannibal said the territory has a great track record in this area.
“For more than five years, there were no mother-to-child transmissions in the territory,” Hannibal told BVI News. “We follow the World Health Guidelines for the elimination initiative where mothers are tested during the antenatal process while pregnant, as well as prior to delivery for both HIV and Syphilis.”
She explained that once HIV or syphilis is identified, mothers are offered treatment that makes the HIV undetectable and this lowers the risk of transmission during the birth process.
“All our births occur in the hospital setting where there are infection control protocols that minimize the risk of transmission to the infant. After birth, the infant is also monitored following the WHO Guidelines that prescribe a series of testing to identify HIV, [and outlines] prevention and treatment modalities to help the infant to thrive,” Hannibal explained to BVI News.
Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Montserrat and Bermuda all received recognition from the WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of both diseases a few years ago.
Another Caribbean country on the list is Cuba, which 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 are also on the list.
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Why does this BVI hospital have 2 names? The photo clearly shows the words ‘Peebles Hospital’ on the building. However in any printed articles about this hospital it is always named the ‘Dr. D. Orlando Smith Hospital.’ Very confusing!
The mother needs to be more careful with who she pickup.
yall busting it open to all kinda street man, drug man, wasteman, security guard, bar tender, gas station tenant, senior citizen, senior rank, co-workers jeezaaam
yuck!
clean up the island. the employees at solid waste department in the british virgin islands needs to go outside and work outside to clean up the island. the employees at public works department in the british virgin islands needs to go outside and work outside to clean up the island. the water and sewerage department in the british virgin islands needs to go outside and work outside to clean up the island.
María you need to see a shrink soon. Did you take your medicación today?