Cuba: Born without HIV

“The elimination of the transmission of a virus is one of the highest possible achievements of a public health system”, declared doctor Margaret Chan, Director General of he World Health Organization –WHO. 

This is an important victory in our long struggle against HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, and an important step towards a generation free from AIDS,  added doctor Chan.

In turn, doctor Carissa Etienne, Director General of the Pan American Health Organization --PAHO—, added

 “The success of Cuba proves that universal access and total health coverage are posible and in fact are the key to success, even in the case of such complex challenges as HIV’’.

In the words of WHO, Cuba has worked to ensure early access to pre natal attention, to test for HIV and syphillis both all the pregnant wonen and their male partners in order to provide immediate treatment to those women whose tests show positive to the disease as well as to their babies.

Also, the replacement of breast feeding by infected women and the prevention of HIV and syphilis before and during pregnancy through the use of condoms and other preventive measures.

This support is provided as part of a health service that is equitable,  accesible and fully universal.

A service that integrates the mother and child health attention with the programmes for the elimination of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.

The world has just celebrated the International Day of Action against HIV/AIDS,  a struggle  to  which our country has already made an important contribution.

---The International Day of Action Against HIV/AIDS is celebrated each December 1st, and is devoted to reporting on the latest advances against the disease  caused by the extensión of the HIV infection.

In 2003, only two babies were born with HIV in Cuba, and three other babies were born infected by syphillis.