Elimination of Congenital Syphilis
There are opportunities to promote a joint elimination agenda with PMTCT of HIV:
- Support the achievement of MDGs 4, 5, 6
- Support the PMTCT Strategic Vision (2010-2015)
- Steps to take to implement joint elimination:
- Advocacy - Elimination of vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis
- Improved access to quality antenatal care (ANC) services - Pilot integration projects with documentation of impact of joint effort
- Screening to prevent infection - Integrated training and guidelines for rapid testing in ANC setting (HIV, syphilis, malaria) - Joint efforts to strengthen laboratory supply chain
- Surveillance, monitoring and evaluation - Joint regional or country support (three interlinked patient monitoring systems for HIV care, PMTCT and TB/HIV).
- Ease of implementation in countries and regions