UNICEF: Jordan has golden opportunity to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV

Vertical transmission of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) from mother to child is a significant concern for newborn health, prompting international organizations to focus on preventing this mode of transmission.

Dr. Ali Al-Gharabli, a health policy specialist at the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Jordan, moderated a session during the second national conference on HIV and reproductive health.

 - Health integration as a priority -

Director of Communicable Diseases at the Ministry of Health, Hadeel Al-Sayeh, emphasized that the ministry provides 70 percent of primary healthcare services in Jordan, delivered through 630 health centers and 18 hospitals. A national team has been established to integrate HIV services with reproductive health.

She explained, "We have set criteria for evaluating centers to select the most suitable for implementing the program."

Sayeh noted that cultural challenges, including the stigma associated with HIV, discourage people from seeking testing, leading some to choose private care or treatment abroad.

The ministry offers the best global treatments for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients free of charge for life through its national program and leads efforts to integrate HIV services with sexual and reproductive health via a committee approved by the Minister of Health.

 - Achievements of the National Task Force -

According to Sayeh, the task force has accomplished several key initiatives:

• Defined roles: Clarified tasks and responsibilities for team members.
• Strategic alignment: Ensured service integration aligns with the national reproductive and sexual health strategy.
• Selection criteria: Established criteria for choosing qualified civil society organizations and health centers.
• Evaluation tools: Developed tools and methodologies for assessing organization performance.
• Target centers: Selected three health centers for the integration program.
• Field visits: Team representatives visited the selected centers.
• Salary determination: Established salaries for the integration program staff.
• Protocol integration: Continued implementation of integration protocols within health centers.
• Maternal and child health development: Prepared and enhanced health guidelines for maternal and child care.
• Training initiatives: Trained health staff on leadership and excellence, with 246 trainees across eight governorates.
• Specialized training: Provided training for 17 trainees in specific health centers.

 - Promoting equality in Zaatari Camp -

Dr. Eman Al-Hammouri, a gynecologist at the Jordan Health Aid Society (JHAS), highlighted that the association offers sexual and reproductive health services in the Zaatari camp in partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Medical Corps (IMC) to promote equality.

She noted that women constitute 66 percent of the Syrian refugees in the camp, emphasizing the need for training health personnel to address the specific needs of pregnant women.

Hammouri acknowledged the stigma surrounding HIV that affects refugees' willingness to seek care but stated that the society successfully built trust within the community and introduced appropriate health services.

The society's accomplishments in Zaatari include:

• Advancing equality and health: Promoting sexual health and equality among refugees.
• Training health workers: Equipping staff to support HIV patients.
• Raising awareness: Educating refugees about the importance of testing and treatment.

The association provides comprehensive primary health services through six mobile and fixed clinics, covering family planning and health education across the Kingdom, staffed by five gynecologists and five licensed midwives.

 - A golden opportunity for Jordan -

Shirley Mark Prabhu, a Regional Adolescent Health and HIV Specialist at UNICEF, stated that eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV requires reducing cases to below 50 per 1,000 births. Countries like Oman and Thailand successfully achieved this through early testing and comprehensive awareness programs.

She explained that the World Health Organization (WHO) defines the elimination of transmission as reducing mother-to-child cases through strategic interventions to levels that do not pose a public health risk.

Prabhu noted that 19 countries have successfully eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV, earning recognition from their health ministries.

She emphasized that Jordan is in a strong position to pursue this goal and announced UNICEF's support for Jordan's efforts, alongside the WHO and civil society organizations, stressing the importance of early testing for pregnant women.

- Campaigning -

The conference organized by the Forearms of Change Center to Enable Community (FOCCEC) included an awareness film as part of their campaign, aimed at changing societal perceptions of people with AIDS.

The center affirmed that the campaign will continue annually until comprehensive community awareness is achieved.

The conference was sponsored by Faisal Al-Fayez, President of the Senate, and attended by officials and experts from Jordan and international organizations to discuss challenges and aspirations related to reproductive health and HIV.