PUTRAJAYA, Oct 19 — Malaysia has retained the World Health Organisation (WHO) validation for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis following an assessment of the country’s achievements from 2021 to 2024.
In a statement, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said the achievement reaffirmed the recognition first obtained in 2018, when Malaysia became the first country in the WHO Western Pacific Region to receive the validation.
The ministry said the recognition reflected Malaysia’s continued commitment to strengthening maternal and child health and ensuring access to quality screening, treatment and healthcare services.
It added that the achievement demonstrated the effectiveness of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV and Syphilis programme, which has been integrated into the country’s maternal and child health services since 1997.
The certificate and recognition were received by Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad at the 77th WHO Regional Committee for the Western Pacific meeting in Manila today.
According to the MOH, screening coverage for HIV and syphilis among pregnant women remained above 95 per cent throughout the assessment period, while antiretroviral treatment coverage among pregnant women living with HIV reached approximately 99 per cent.
In 2024, the mother-to-child HIV transmission rate stood at 1.52 per cent, meeting the WHO target of below two per cent.
The ministry also reported that the rate of congenital syphilis, an infection transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy, stood at 10 cases per 100,000 live births, well below the WHO elimination threshold of 50 cases per 100,000 live births.
The MOH attributed the achievement to the sustained commitment of healthcare personnel at all levels and collaboration among government agencies, private healthcare providers, the Malaysian AIDS Council, civil society organisations and the community.
The ministry also expressed appreciation to all parties involved, as well as the WHO, for its technical support and cooperation.
It said efforts would continue to strengthen early detection, treatment and follow-up care for mothers and infants to sustain the achievement.
The MOH also advised pregnant women to seek antenatal care as early as possible and complete the recommended screening and treatment procedures to protect their health and that of their babies. — Bernama