Guyana makes strides in regional fight against mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis

Apr 01, 2026 News

One year after its launch, several Caribbean countries including Guyana have made significant strides in eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, through a project supported by the India UN Development Partnership Fund and implemented by the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), in collaboration with CARICOM.

According to a PAHO press release, the project has catalysed the establishment of a Caribbean Community of Practice for Maternal and Child Health, allowing for ongoing capacity building while sustaining the exchange of knowledge among countries and technical collaboration. In addition, following the technical support and guidance from PAHO within the disease elimination initiative, three countries have applied for the EMTCT of HIV and syphilis, or HIV only. To date, one Caribbean country, and the first in the Caribbean, has applied for the EMTCT of Hepatitis B.

Another major component of the project is the sharing of best practices through south-south cooperation, including a technical exchange between the Belize and The Bahamas. At a regional meeting for health care providers from maternal and child health in Montego Bay, Jamaica in June 2025, Anguilla, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines, shared their experiences and lessons learned, showcasing innovative approaches ranging from the introduction and roll out of hepatitis B birth‑dose, community outreach, laboratory quality assurance, legislation in support of laboratory strengthening, monitoring of the EMTCT Plus strategy and follow-up for the sero-positive pregnant women (those who test positive for antibodies to infections like HIV, Syphilis, or hepatitis B), among others.

Approximately thirty-six laboratory professionals from beneficiary countries Guyana, Jamaica and Suriname have undergone training in Laboratory Quality Management System, improving quality testing for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis. Meanwhile, virtual regional capacity building sessions on recent guidance for EMTCT of the three diseases, and the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission during pregnancy, commenced and will continue until the end of the project.

To strengthen the surveillance for EMTCT within maternal and child health, the project supported the procurement of computers for approximately eight countries to enhance real-time data to further improve the tracking and monitoring of cases detected.

As the project enters its final year of implementation emphasis will be placed on strengthening the use of rapid tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis, further strengthen surveillance, attainment of certification for EMTCT of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B for more countries, while deepening regional collaboration for the strategy which remains a critical driver of equitable, high‑quality maternal and child health services across the Caribbean.

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CARICOM, HIV, PAHO, syphilis, transmission

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