title: Elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis: A dual approach in the African Region to improve quality of antenatal care and integrated disease control.
abstract: The World Health Organization's (WHO) Strategic Framework for the Elimination of New HIV Infections among Children in Africa by 2015 identifies important synergies for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis in terms of prevention interventions, implementation logistics and service delivery, monitoring and evaluation systems, and need for sustained political commitment. The WHO advocates the use of an integrated, rights-based dual approach with partnerships and collaboration to make the best use of available resources. Through a consultative approach, six countries in the African Region committed to dual elimination and developed and implemented action plans for this purpose. Where interest and commitment are high, this may also be possible and effective in other African countries.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Harare, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: newmanm@who.int.
authors.forename: Morkor
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Newman Owiredu
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nzomo
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Ghislaine
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conombo Kafando
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Libreville, Gabon.
authors.forename: Saliyou
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanni
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shaffer
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Maurice
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bucagu
authors.affiliation: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rosanna
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peeling
authors.affiliation: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mark
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Brazzaville, Congo.
authors.forename: Isseu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Diop Toure
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000592:standards*; D060740:Disease Eradication; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D013587:Syphilis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Africa; Congenital syphilis; HIV; Integration; Mother-to-child transmission