The UN has teams working in 162 countries and territories, collaborating on various projects and addressing a wide range of priorities, from climate action to food security. These teams are dedicated to finding innovative solutions to better serve communities. This month, some highlights of their work include the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis in Belize, Jamaica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced today that these three countries have achieved this significant milestone, as part of a certification initiative involving PAHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, and the ministries of health. This accomplishment is a major step forward in improving maternal and child health programs and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. The countries join 20 others that have also been certified for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, with the Caribbean leading the world with 11 certified countries.
Key officials at the certification event included PAHO/WHO Director Jarbas Barbosa, UNAIDS Deputy Executive Director Christine Stegling, and UN Resident Coordinator Dennis Zulu. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended the countries for their efforts in integrating disease prevention and treatment into maternal and child health services, as well as their commitment to human rights and strong national laboratory systems.
The UN’s work in these areas continues to make a positive impact on communities around the world. For more updates from UN teams around the globe
