There is great news out of Cuba in the fight against HIV.
The World Health Organization announced late last week that Cuba has become the first country to end HIV and syphilis transmission from mother to baby. Deeming the feat “one of the greatest public health achievements possible,” WHO’s director general, Margaret Chan, says this development puts the world another step closer to having an AIDS-free generation.
For the last five years, Caribbean countries have steadily increased access to antiretroviral drugs in an effort to eliminate mother to infant transmission. A number of factors, including cesarean deliveries, substitution of breast-feeding, and HIV and syphilis testing for both pregnant women and their spouses have been credited with helping to break the infection cycle.
Each year approximately 1.4 million HIV infected women become pregnant. If left untreated, the chances of transmitting the virus to their baby ranges anywhere from 15-45 percent. If treated with antiretroviral drugs that percentage dwindles down to just over 1 percent.
Scientists say getting rid of AIDS is indeed possible if the HIV rate, which has steadily dropped around the world over the past few years, continues its downward trend. Cuba’s reduction rate is regarded as a major breakthrough in putting an end to the virus across the world.
2013 saw only five babies born with congenital syphilis in Cuba, and only two born with HIV.
