Thailand Awarded First to Eliminate HIV Mother-to-child Transmission

"Anti-retroviral drugs" by Rico Gustav licensed under CC BY 2.0
Anti-retroviral drugs” by Rico Gustav licensed under CC BY 2.0

Source: CNN

Thailand recently was named the first country in the Asia-Pacific region to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, as deemed by the World Health Organization who awarded Thailand’s minister of health with a certification.

Between 2000 and 2014, the number of women infected with HIV every year dropped by nearly 14,000 as a result of Thailand’s major efforts to eradicate transmission of the disease. The chances of a baby inheriting the disease in the womb, during labor, or through breastfeeding is up to 45% if the disease is not treated.

“This is a remarkable achievement for a country where thousands of people live with HIV,” said Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO regional director for Southeast Asia, as reported by CNN.

Read full story: CNN

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