Thailand becomes first Asian country to eliminate mother to child HIV: WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Thailand has become the first Asian country to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission.
In this regard, Thailand’s Minister of Health was presented with the certificate of validation during a ceremony, which took place on the eve of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-Level Meeting on Ending AIDS in New York.
The mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Thailand has been reduced to less than 2% and all pregnant women living with HIV have access to antiretroviral (ARV) therapy to reduce transmission of virus from mother to child during pergrency.
Under Thailand’s Universal Health Coverage framework routine screening and universal free medication for pregnant women with HIV was crucial in stopping the virus being passed to new generations.
Previously, Cuba was the only other country and first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission under the WHO’s criteria back in July 2015.
The chances of mother-to-child transmission of HIV to their children during pregnancy are 15-45% if they are untreated. The risk of transmission of virus in the new born can reduced with the medication of antiretroviral medicines.

Month: Current Affairs - June, 2016