More than 20 cases of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Fiji were recorded in the country last year.
This has been confirmed by Health Ministry’s Head of Family Health Doctor Rachel Pillay during the launch of the Regional Roadmap for the Triple Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B in the Asia and Pacific Region (2024–2030).
She says the country is working to address challenges with linking prevention of mother-to-child services with maternal and child healthcare.
Dr Pillay says at present Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission services are only available in tertiary and some sub-district facilities.
She says the Fiji Government is developing a National Triple Elimination Plan for the next five years which aligns with the global and regional frameworks.
Dr Pillay adds there is hope as they want to leverage the fact that 99.8 percent of the deliveries take place in hospitals.
Meanwhile, UNAIDS, in a statement says the road map offers guidance to strengthen national strategies and operational plans to end these three diseases among children in the five years left to meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal target.
They say to achieve this, there should be access to antenatal screening of all women and their partners for the three diseases, prompt treatment, safe delivery and infant feeding options as well as appropriate infant preventative treatments (prophylaxis) and vaccines.
UNAIDS says regional success in achieving elimination will rely on the collaborative efforts of all key stakeholders and the involvement of communities, affected individuals and women.
They add only then can we truly build a generation in which all children and their families are protected and thriving.
