PMTCT

The global community has committed to eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT), also known as vertical transmission, of HIV and syphilis as a public health priority. In 2014 the World Health Organization (WHO) released the first edition of the Global guidance on criteria and processes for validation: elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. In 2015 the Global Validation Advisory Committee for EMTCT was established and that same year the first country, Cuba, was validated. The second edition of the guidance, published in 2017, captured the learning from validation efforts, making it more relevant for high burden countries, expanding the capacity of maternal and child health services to address vertical transmission of communicable diseases.

This third version includes guidance for validation of elimination of vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV), within the Triple Elimination Initiative (EMTCT of HIV, syphilis and HBV).

Download a selection of abstracts related to children, HIV and AIDS published in peer-reviewed journals between July and October 2019.

The topics in this issue of the research summary are: (1) HIV in pregnancy and breastfeeding, (2) HIV prevention, (3) HIV testing and diagnostics, (4) paediatric HIV treatment, (5) HIV service delivery for adolescents and young people and (6) HIV epidemic among adolescent girls and young women.

From, UNICEF Newsletter: For every child, ending AIDS (November 2019)
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The four investment cases above highlight opportunities for the private sector to engage in the global HIV response for infants, children and adolescents in partnership with UNICEF.

The 'Last Mile' road map draws on the latest scientific research and programmatic evidence to describe and recommend strategies to achieve the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (EMTCT). It includes a synthesis of evidence and country experiences for reaching EMTCT and recommends clear strategies that can improve the coverage, effectiveness and quality of national programmes for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). The goal of this document is to provide guidelines for coordinated action so that national programmes address local priority areas to achieve EMTCT in an effective, people-centred, efficient and directed manner.

This document was conceptualized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners including the Start Free working group, the Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and it was validated by ministries of health of Botswana, Malawi, Seychelles, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Learning Collaborative draws on scientific research published in the second quarter of 2019 to bring you short summaries of the following topics: PMTCT, HIV testing strategies, paediatric treatment, HIV prevention and treatment in adolescent girls and young women, adherence and retention in care, and global governance and financing for HIV. 

At a high-level meeting in Dakar, Senegal in January 2019, UNAIDS, UNICEF and WHO urged countries in Western and Central Africa to strengthen their commitments towards EMTCT and universal coverage for paediatric testing and treatment for HIV.

Countries and partners renewed their commitment to the 2015 Dakar Call to Action for Accelerating the Elimination of New HIV Infections in Children and Access to Treatment for Children and Adolescents Living with HIV by 2020.

This document outlines evidence-based practices for retention in care of mother-infant pairs in the context of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (EMTCT) in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Developed by the UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) with support from HIV colleagues and partners, the report provides a review of the evidence-base on improving care for women living with HIV and their infants. It builds on the conceptual framework outlined in UNICEF’s Community-Facility Linkages report through an extensive literature review, stakeholder consultations and country visits.

Ten evidence-based practices were identified in the areas of service quality, human resources, use of health information and demand generation. The report describes these practices, including key considerations for implementation, helpful tools and resources. As countries take these evidence-based practices to scale, even greater numbers of vulnerable women and children will be given the opportunity not only to survive, but also to thrive, and the world will move closer to ending AIDS among children.