UNICEF sounds alarm on high mother-to-child HIV transmission rates in Papua New Guinea

Port Moresby, 1 December 2024 – UNICEF has issued a warning on World AIDS Day, highlighting Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) alarmingly high rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, which stands at 30%. This crisis has resulted in an estimated 790 new child infections in 2023 alone, threatening to undermine progress made in the fight against HIV in the country. 

Despite significant advances in reducing HIV-related deaths – with over 33,300 lives saved since 2010 through anti-retroviral therapy – PNG is struggling to prevent transmission from pregnant mothers to their babies. UNICEF says more needs to be done to address the crisis, citing gaps in testing, prevention, and treatment services for expectant mothers as major obstacles. 

UNICEF’s Acting Representative in PNG, Kateryna Lytvynenko, described the situation as a call to action, saying no child should be born with HIV, Syphilis, or Hepatitis. “The 30% transmission rate is unacceptable,” Lytvynenko said. “By expanding testing, strengthening healthcare systems, and increasing awareness, we can turn the tide and save lives,” she said.

While testing efforts have improved, only 58,014 (23%) pregnant women of 253,243 tested for HIV in 2023. According to UNICEF, only one in five pregnant women know their HIV Status. Testing needs to improve for Prevention of Parent-to-Child Transmission (PPTCT) in the country. 

To combat the crisis, UNICEF is working closely with the Government of Papua New Guinea and partners to improve the availability of test kits, enhance healthcare worker training, and raise awareness at the community level. Training programs aim to ensure healthcare providers are equipped to deliver comprehensive care, while public education campaigns are being launched to reduce stigma and encourage expectant mothers to seek antenatal care.

Lytvynenko said urgent investments in healthcare infrastructure and outreach are needed to address the transmission crisis. The organisation also warned that the challenges go beyond HIV, with Syphilis and Hepatitis also posing significant risks to maternal and child health.

This year’s World AIDS Day theme, Take the Right Path, serves as a reminder that addressing inequalities and ensuring access to healthcare are vital to ending the AIDS epidemic. 

UNICEF’s efforts are focused on ensuring that Papua New Guinea’s children are born free from preventable infections and can thrive in healthier communities.