Meeting in Uganda to eliminate HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis in Africa
Researchers, health experts and political decision-makers began a three-day meeting on Monday, June 21 in Kampala, the Ugandan capital, in order to accelerate the efforts to eliminate the mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B in Africa.
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| Meeting having the theme “unify actions, transform the future: reaching triple elimination in Africa by 2030”, in Kampala. |
| Photo : Xinhua/VNA/CVN |
Placed under the theme “unifying the actions, transforming the future: reaching triple elimination in Africa by 2030”, this event was presented as the very first high-level conference focused on the triple elimination of the mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B in Africa.
The Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, represented by Vice-President Jessica Alupo, stressed on this occasion the importance of unity and innovation to meet the health challenges faced by the continent, in particular in a context of evolution of world health priorities and reduction in funding.
“As a continent and as a global community, we must show unity, innovation and determination to advance maternal and child health and eliminate the mother-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B“Said Mr. Museveni.
He pointed out that epidemics of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B were interconnected and represented an important burden on public health, in particular due to cases of mother-child transmission during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
The Ugandan Minister of Health Ruth Aceng said that despite progress in HIV prevention, care and processing, major challenges persisted, especially in the fight against syphilis and hepatitis B.
At the end of 2024, Africa had around 26.3 million people living with HIV, or 65% of the world total. At the same time, syphilis cases are increasing worldwide, with 8 million infected adults, 700,000 congenital cases and 230,000 deaths per year, she added.
Xinhua/VNA/CVN