Medical and scientific experts participating in the recent international conference Children and HIV: Problems and Prospects, held in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, pledged to eradicate mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the Russian Federation by the end of 2015, a first step towards achieving a generation born free of HIV in the country.
More than 400 specialists from across the Russian Federation, health professionals from 18 countries and representatives of international organizations and global research institutes, including UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO and the Paediatric European Network for Treatment of AIDS, discussed topics such as improving medical care for pregnant women and children, early HIV diagnostics and treatment of coinfections and social support for children living with HIV and their families.
Key recommendations made at the forum to achieve the target of zero new cases of HIV transmitted from mother to child included promoting and implementing modern clinical protocols and standards and strengthening international cooperation to better serve mothers and children.
"All necessary elements are in place in the Russian Federation to ensure that no child is born with HIV and that their mothers stay alive. Human and financial resources are available, health services for women and children in the country are almost universal, partnerships are strong and innovative programmes exist. I am confident that the Russian Federation will make the goal of an HIV-free generation a reality.”
Vinay Saldanha, UNAIDS Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
"The Russian Federation has already achieved significant success in prevention of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV. More efforts are needed, but we can reach zero infections among children in the near future."
Yevgeny Voronin, Chief Expert on HIV, Women and Children, Russian Ministry of Health
“Women living with HIV in the Russian Federation can and should have healthy children, born free of HIV. There are now effective methods of prevention and every opportunity to ensure all women have access to life-saving services."
Svetlana Izambaeva, woman living with HIV and mother of two children
