The World Health Organisation has announced that Thailand is the first Asian country to eliminate mother-to-child HIV transmission, marking a milestone in the fight against the disease.
This proves to be a huge boost for Thailand, from being one of Asia’s most HIV-ravaged societies. The WHO mentioned that Thailand had “demonstrated to the world that HIV can be defeated”. Cuba is the only other country to have eliminated mother-to-child HIV transmission.
WHO cited Thailand’s routine screening and universal free medication for pregnant women with HIV as crucial steps that help to stop the virus from being passed down. If left untreated, mothers with HIV have a 15 to 45% chance of transmitting the virus to their child, either during pregnancy or through breastfeeding.
Taking antiretroviral drugs during pregnancy significantly reduces those chances.
Thailand became one of the first few countries to provide free antiretroviral medication to all pregnant women with HIV. Screening for the virus during pregnancy is also routine, even in the remote areas of Thailand. Last year, the number of babies born with HIV dropped from 1,000 to 85, which is a major turnaround for Thailand.
There is still work to be done, especially in Malaysia.
[Source]
