Minister of Health leads the representatives of International Organizations, health sectors and civil society who work on AIDS program to meet the Prime Minister on the occasion of Thailand was certified the validation of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis. Thailand was the second country after Cuba and the first country in Asia who declared ending AIDS in 2030. That means there will be no newborn with HIV infection, new HIV infection no more than 1,000 cases per year and all have access to Antiretroviral treatment, and no discrimination to HIV infected persons.
The Prime Minister congratulates and suggests on development of AIDS program in Thailand after the validation of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis by keeping standard of work and expanding the elimination of HIV transmission to other groups. The important things are targeting and increasing strength of ownership in provincial level to community. In addition, reinforcement of HIV and syphilis infected persons, increase access to the treatment, individual management in community and family involvement on caring the case are importance as well.
Clinical Professor Dr. Piyasakol Sakolsatayadhorn, Minister of Health says that the success of Thailand occurred from cooperation of all stakeholders including government, non-government and international organizations to do research and development on prevention of
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mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The MoPH had the policy for government and private hospitals integrated prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis in maternal and child health services. HIV blood screening in pregnant women and providing powder milk to newborn of HIV infected mother was started since 1993. Antiretroviral therapy for mother and child started in 2000 and was set as a service in benefit package of Universal Health Coverage Scheme of the National Health Security Office in 2003. Couple blood screening test with counseling started in 2010 including rapid diagnosis with high quality treatment and effective monitoring at all levels.
Furthermore, HRH. Princess Soamsawali concerned about the problem of high HIV infection in pregnant women. The rate of HIV infection in pregnant women in 1992 was 2% among 1 million pregnant women. It was estimated to have 20,000 pregnant women with HIV infection at that time. HRH. bestowed one million THB. to the Thai Red-Cross to set-up a fund for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in 1993. At present, this fund still provides help to HIV infected mothers and children both for Thai people and foreign workers who lack of resources.
With integrated program that all stakeholders contributed, by the end of 2015 the rate of new case of newborn infected with HIV was reduced from 12.2/100,000 LB. in 2014 to 11.5/100,000 LB. and the rate of HIV transmission from mother to child was reduced from 10.3 in 2000-2003 to 1.9. In addition, the rate of congenital syphilis was reduced from 11.2/100,000 LB. in 2013 to 10.9/100,000 LB. in 2015. Hence, Thailand sent a letter to the World Health Organization requesting for validation of elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis on December 2015. The validation process was done in April 2016. The announcement and certificate was given to Thailand in the meeting of United Nation General Assembly High Level Meeting on Ending AIDS at the United Nations Head Quarter, New York on 7th June 2016.
Thailand intend to Ending AIDS in 2030 that are no newborn with HIV infection, having new HIV case no more than 1,000 cases/year and all have access to antiretroviral treatment with no discrimination.
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