Uganda Hosts Africa’s First-Ever Triple Elimination Conference on Mother-to-Child Transmission

Uganda Hosts Africa’s First-Ever Triple Elimination Conference on Mother-to-Child Transmission (image source)

In a groundbreaking public health milestone, Uganda has become the first African country to host a Triple Elimination Conference focused on the mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. The conference—held in Kampala—was officially opened by Her Excellency Vice President Jessica Alupo, and has brought together global and continental health experts, policy leaders, and development partners.

Speaking at the opening, Vice President Alupo commended Uganda’s leadership and longstanding commitment to eliminating vertical transmission, highlighting that Uganda launched its Triple Elimination initiative in 2019 and developed a comprehensive national plan (2019/2020–2024) aimed at achieving full elimination. Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng outlined the country’s impressive progress, emphasizing the importance of integrated testing, treatment, and care for all three infections. She praised the efforts of local health workers and thanked international organizations and donors for their unwavering support.

Why Triple Elimination Matters

Triple elimination refers to the coordinated effort to eliminate the transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B from mothers to their children during pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding. The strategy prioritizes universal antenatal screening, prompt treatment, and newborn prophylaxis, ensuring that both mother and child receive comprehensive care. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the triple elimination model as a gold-standard approach to maternal and child health. WHO’s comprehensive guidelines recommend that all pregnant women be tested for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, and that positive cases receive timely interventions to prevent further spread and complications.

Botswana as a Role Model

Currently, Botswana stands as the only African country to achieve WHO's gold-tier status in the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV as a public health problem. It has successfully reduced paediatric infections to below 250 cases per 100,000 live births, while ensuring over 95% coverage of antenatal care, HIV testing, and treatment access for pregnant women living with HIV. Uganda aims to follow suit, building on its national plan with a renewed focus on service integration, expanded testing, and community mobilization. The conference serves as a platform to share best practices, analyze gaps in implementation, and forge continental partnerships for accelerated results.

A Continental Call to Action

The Kampala summit comes at a critical time when many African nations are strengthening maternal health systems in response to rising STI rates, HIV resurgence in young women, and ongoing hepatitis B prevalence. Experts agree that the integration of health services—rather than siloed disease responses—is key to eliminating all three infections simultaneously.

Participants are expected to develop regional frameworks, mobilize donor support, and align efforts with the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to good health and well-being. As Uganda leads the way, the hope is that this first-of-its-kind Triple Elimination Conference will spark a continent-wide movement toward ending mother-to-child transmission for good.