Special webinar to present a framework for triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the Francophone African region (current situation, orientations, country experiences).
The session is in French without simultaneous interpretation.
Organizers/partners
- WHO Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs Programmes (HHS)
- WHO Regional Office of Africa
- UNAIDS
- The Global Alliance to End Aids in Children (WCA Hub)
- EVA Network.
Objectives
- presentation of current data on the epidemiological situation and programmatic issues related to the triple elimination (HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B);
- presentation of WHO guidelines on the triple elimination and HBV management; and
- sharing of experiences and viewpoints on the challenges of triple elimination implementation in Francophone African countries by Ministries ministries of Health health (MoH), civil society, technical and financial partners and researchers.
Agenda
1st part: presentations | Moderator: Mach Houd Kouton (UNAIDS, WCA) |
Welcome and opening remarks | Mach Houd Kouton (UNAIDS, WCA) |
WHO guidelines on triple elimination | Agnès Chetty (WHO Regional Office for Africa) |
From pilot to scale-up: Benin's experience of triple elimination | Dr René Kéké (PSLS Benin) |
Civil society and triple elimination in WCA | Satam Djalo (Civil Society Institute for Health in WCA (Senegal) |
2nd part: roundtable | Moderator: Niklas Luhmann (WHO HHS) |
Round table: shared views on challenges and opportunities in the transition to triple elimination | Dr Abbas Moustapha (CNLS, Tchad) David Maman (Global Fund) Sylvie Boyer (IRD, France) |
Background
The African region has made great strides in its fight against HIV and AIDS - HIV incidence and mortality have fallen, and by the end of 2023, some countries had reached or were on track to reach global targets for HIV testing and treatment coverage (UNAIDS 2024). However, progress has been uneven, and countries in West and Central Africa are generally less advanced in achieving these targets, particularly in terms of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT). While the region is home to 20% of pregnant women living with HIV worldwide, it accounts for 52% of all pregnant women living with HIV who are not on treatment. In terms of pediatric HIV, only just over a third (35%) of children living with HIV were put on ARV treatment in 2023 (UNAIDS 2024).
In addition, the region is particularly affected by the viral hepatitis B epidemic, since of the 19 sub-Saharan African countries with a high endemic rate (prevalence over 8%), 15 are in West and Central Africa. Syphilis in pregnant women is estimated at 0.16% in West Africa and 1.04% in Central Africa.
In 2021, WHO launched the Triple EMTCT Initiative to encourage countries to engage simultaneously in PMTCT for HIV, syphilis and HBV, reinforcing the need for integrated service delivery. In 2024, new guidelines on hepatitis B were published, proposing simplified management of pregnant women with chronic hepatitis B. Numerous technical and financial partners (The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, Expertise France, Unitaid, PEPFAR, UNAIDS, Unicef, etc.) support and accompany the triple elimination, enabling countries to initiate projects and activities. However, there are still major practical challenges to implementation.
This is why UNAIDS, WHO, The Global Alliance to End Aids in Children (WCA Hub) and the EVA Network have decided to organize a series of webinars on the theme of triple elimination, with a focus on Francophone African countries.