Elimination of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B

Overview

Timor-Leste is committed to ʻTriple Eliminationʼ of MTCT of HIV/AIDS syphilis and hepatitis B by 2030. The External Mid-Term Review had noted that Timor-Leste has the potential to build on its strong primary health care (PHC) network to accelerate efforts towards EMTCT of HIV and syphilis. The risk of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) can be reduced to less than 5% by interventions that include ART or ARV prophylaxis given during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding period. With these interventions, new HIV infections in children are becoming increasingly rare in many parts of the world, particularly in high-income countries. Technically, elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV is a distinct possibility By scaling up antenatal care (ANC) screening for HIV and by strengthening STI services, Timor-Leste can aim to achieve triple elimination of mother to child transmission – HIV, Hepatitis and STI in three to five years. This is also envisioned the integrated HIV, Hepatitis and STI Costed NSP 2022-26.