WHO publishes updated guidance on validation of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B virus

WHO has updated its Global guidance on standards and processes for validation: elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B virus.
This third model of world guidance incorporates EMTCT of HBV in direction of validation of triple elimination and supplies standardized processes and standards to each validate EMTCT of HIV, syphilis and HBV, and to acknowledge excessive burden
international locations which have made important progress on the trail to elimination (PTE). 

The similarity of the crucial interventions mandatory to stop transmission provides to the feasibility and profit of an built-in strategy to EMTCT of all three infections as triple elimination. Building on an built-in maternal and baby well being
platform, WHO has moved to operationalize common well being protection within the context of built-in communicable illness prevention.

The guidance strongly emphasizes country-led accountability, rigorous evaluation, intensive programme evaluation and multilevel collaboration, together with the involvement of communities of ladies residing with HIV or HBV, or affected by syphilis. A harmonized
strategy to triple elimination is inspired inside a public well being, rights-based and person-centred strategy however relying on readiness, international locations could select to pursue validation of single, twin or triple EMTCT. 

Since the efforts to determine standards for validation started in 2007, two editions of the doc have been revealed, and as of November 2021, 15 international locations and territories have been validated for EMTCT of HIV and syphilis and one nation has been licensed on the silver tier within the path to elimination. The two earlier editions for this guidance doc supported the standardization and formal strategy to EMTCT validation, together with standards, indicators and targets to be achieved. The third model was developed by WHO and the Global Validation Advisory Committee. It is meant to be used by nationwide, regional and world validation committees as they put together or overview nationwide and regional submissions for validation of EMTCT of HIV, syphilis and HBV.

Mother-to-child transmission, or vertical transmission, is a major contributor to the HIV pandemic, accounting for 9% of new infections globally in 2017 (1). “With renewed focus to finish the epidemics of HIV, viral hepatitis and
sexually transmitted infections, we’re satisfied that setting the bar excessive for validation will end in the most effective outcomes for all and, particularly, for ladies and kids in danger for HIV, syphilis and HBV,” mentioned Dr Meg Doherty, Director
of WHO’s Department of Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI Programmes.

Reference

1. Ending AIDS: progress in direction of the 90–90–90 targets. Global AIDS replace 2017. Geneva: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS); 2017