Uganda Hosts African Health Experts On Fighting Mother-to-Child STI Transmission
On Monday, health experts, policymakers, and researchers from across Africa gathered in Kampala, the capital of Uganda, for a crucial three-day conference. This landmark event, themed “Unifying Actions, Transforming Futures: Achieving Triple Elimination in Africa by 2030,” is the continent’s first high-level conference dedicated to accelerating the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B..
The conference, themed “Unifying Actions, Transforming Futures: Achieving Triple Elimination in Africa by 2030,” is billed as Africa’s first high-level forum dedicated to addressing the triple threat of mother-to-child transmission of these three diseases.
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, in a message delivered by Vice President Jessica Alupo, stressed the need for unity and innovative solutions to address the continent’s health challenges, especially in the context of evolving global health priorities and declining funding.
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“As Africa, and as a global community, we must act with unity, innovation, and purpose to advance maternal and child health and eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B,” Museveni stated.
He emphasized that the interconnected nature of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B poses a significant public health burden, particularly through mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
Uganda’s Minister of Health, Ruth Aceng, told attendees that while progress has been made in HIV prevention, care, and treatment, significant challenges remain, especially in tackling syphilis and hepatitis B.
She noted that by the end of 2024, approximately 26.3 million people in Africa were living with HIV, representing 65 percent of the global total. She also highlighted the rising global trend of syphilis cases, with eight million adults infected, resulting in 700,000 congenital cases and 230,000 deaths annually.
While Africa has experienced the highest increase in syphilis cases worldwide, Minister Aceng pointed out that only Botswana and Namibia are currently on track to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of the disease. She added that 65 million people across Africa are chronically infected with hepatitis B, contributing to 63 percent of the world’s new infections.
“Integration is the way to go now, especially in this era of unprecedented funding challenges, where we are already seeing a reduction in funding from development partners,” Aceng said, emphasizing the importance of resource optimization.
Organizers stated that the conference is aligned with the World Health Organisation’s 2030 disease elimination targets and the African Union’s Agenda 2063, both of which envision a healthier and more resilient Africa.
Source: The EastAfrican
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