^{By Tatenda Chimbwanda}

Harare, Zimbabwe – Today, the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a pivotal side event at the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) 2023. The event, held in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC), UNAIDS and UNICEF, focused on the Triple Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis.

WHO Zimbabwe, External Communications Officer, Vivian Mugarisi was the event moderator. She introduced a panel of experts including Dr. Morkor Newman from the WHO Headquarters, Dr. Agnes Chetty, the WHO AFRO medical officer for HIV prevention, UNICEF’s Dr. Ider Dungerdorj, Dr. Angela Mushavi from the MoHCC, and Dr. Olufunmilayo Lesi, WHO Viral Hepatitis Lead in Geneva.

Dr. Newman provided an overview of the WHO's Triple Elimination Initiative, emphasizing its person-centered approach and particular focus on Syphilis. The initiative aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Hepatitis B, and Syphilis, thereby safeguarding the health of future generations.

Dr. Chetty presented an African perspective on progress towards Triple Elimination. Despite significant progress, he highlighted the persistent problem of new HIV infections in young women. He underscored the importance of prenatal care for testing and treating all three diseases and called on countries to maintain their gains and adopt best practices.

Discussing the success of Africa in reducing new HIV cases by 70%, Dr. Dungerdorj stressed the importance of partnerships, political commitment, investment in healthcare, and community-led solutions.

Dr. Mushavi shared Zimbabwe's experience with dual elimination and how the lessons learnt then are informing implementation  of the Triple Elimination plan (2023-2026) launched on the eve of World AIDS Day in Victoria Falls. Notable achievements include the introduction of self-testing kits, an innovative solution to improve access to testing. She stressed the importance of reaching hard-to-reach populations and engaging communities through various initiatives.

Addressing the issue of Hepatitis B, Dr. Lesi emphasized its prevalence in Sub-Saharan Africa and its link to cancer. She advocated for testing mothers and expressed the need for new WHO guidelines to support Triple Elimination efforts.

In response to an inquiry from an attendee, Elizabeth from Ghana, about WHO's efforts to promote routine testing for Triple Elimination, the panel emphasized that access to prenatal care and testing for all three diseases is crucial. They also highlighted the importance of community engagement and leadership for reaching hard-to-reach populations.

The side event concluded with a clear call to action. The panelists underscored the need for continued commitment and collaboration from governments, communities, and international organizations. They advocated for increased investment in healthcare and community-based interventions and encouraged the exploration of innovative solutions like self-testing kits to improve access to testing and treatment. Furthermore, they stressed the importance of advocacy and awareness campaigns to educate the public about the importance of Triple Elimination.

The side event, hosted under the joint United Nations exhibition booth for WHO, UNFPA, and UNAIDS, effectively showcased the agencies' collaborative efforts in addressing HIV/AIDS within the country and across the African region. Aligned with the overarching theme of "Let Communities Lead," this event served as one of several impactful initiatives spearheaded by WHO during the 2023 International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA). The conference's crucial theme, "AIDS Is Not Over: Address Inequalities, Accelerate Inclusion and Innovation," underscores the ongoing need for focused attention and collective action to overcome the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS.