Towards eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis by 2030
The model of screening and treatment of hepatitis B for pregnant women in Nghe An, implemented from 2022 to 2024, has achieved many positive results.
On the morning of July 16, Nghe An Department of Health coordinated with PATH to organize a workshop to summarize the project "Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B: Model of screening and treatment of hepatitis B for pregnant women in Nghe An".
Attending the workshop were representatives of the Nghe An Department of Health; PATH Organization; People's Committees of districts, cities and towns; Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control; hospitals and medical centers in the province.
The pilot model for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis is an initiative funded by the International Hepatitis Foundation and the City of Geneva; co-funded by Abbott and AMV Corporation. The initiative aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis through decentralization, integration and coordination of screening and preventive treatment services for pregnant women in the maternal and child health care system at public and private health facilities at the primary health care level.
The project "Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B" in Nghe An is being piloted by PATH and the Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control in Dien Chau district and Thai Hoa town from July 2022 to June 2024.
Within the framework of the project, 50 health facilities, including 46 health stations, 2 private health facilities and 2 district hospitals, have been involved. These facilities provide systematic screening services for hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis early in the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, and refer clients with reactive screening results to diagnostic and treatment services at health facilities.
During the 2 years of implementation, the project has trained 137 grassroots health workers in communication and counseling skills; trained 99 health workers in screening for 3 diseases using rapid test kits and dual test kits for HIV and syphilis; trained 14 doctors at the provincial and district levels in diagnosis and treatment to prevent mother-to-child transmission of 3 diseases.
Service providers screened nearly 7,700 pregnant women for hepatitis B, HIV, and syphilis and linked those with reactive test results to timely diagnostic testing and treatment services to prevent mother-to-child transmission.
The positive results of the project were used as a basis for the People's Committee of Nghe An province to approve and issue Plan No. 351/KH-UBND on Action towards eliminating HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis transmitted from mother to child in Nghe An province by 2030 on May 9, 2024; as well as used to mobilize resources to replicate and expand the model.
Within the framework of the workshop, the Nghe An Department of Health and the Nghe An Provincial Center for Disease Control deployed the Action Plan to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis in Nghe An by 2030; introduced the continuous training program on eliminating mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, HIV and syphilis; and guided localities and district-level health units in developing plans to eliminate the three diseases.
Leaders of Nghe An Department of Health spoke in response to World Hepatitis Day 2024; at the same time, clearly stated the orientation and direction of Nghe An province for hepatitis prevention and control activities in the coming time./.