The urgency of now to end HIV vertical transmission for pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children in Asia and the Pacific

Abstract

The global strategy to #EndAIDS is underpinned by a call to end all inequities and to ensure no-one is left behind; but inequities continue, and people are still being left behind. Despite the advances seen in some populations and in some geographical areas, with ongoing high rates of HIV vertical transmission, ending HIV for pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children must be prioritised urgently. Focused on Asia and the Pacific, the region with the second largest number of people with HIV, in this viewpoint we highlight the heterogenous nature of global and regional success in eliminating vertical transmission of HIV. We highlight the gaps of the HIV care cascades of pregnant and breastfeeding women and their children in the region that we need to address and galvanise increased attention, and resources for to set us on a path to the elimination of HIV vertical transmission or reverse the slow decline in transmission needed to achieve the last mile. We conclude that the time is now: we need action to improve maternal and child health in our regional response to HIV if we are to ensure we end AIDS for all.

Keywords: Asia and Pacific; HIV care cascade; Infant diagnostic testing; Pedaitric HIV; Vertical transmission.