Mother to child HIV may be eliminated in Cayman

(CNS): the Health Services Authority has said that a team of local doctors, healthcare workers and policy makers is presently in the process of verifying and documenting the elimination of mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and congenital syphilis in the Cayman Islands. The group is working to prepare a report that will be submitted to the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO) for certification. Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kiran Kumar explained that countries need to document the process by which elimination is verified according to WHO guidelines.

“We have achieved this goal due to the quality of our antiretroviral programme over the years. In order to receive certification, we need to document the verification process that we have undertaken, to ensure that there has been no MTCT for the past three years,’’ he added.

Members of the MTCT of HIV and Syphilis Elimination Initiative team include:
• Dr. Karina Palmer- Chair, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist , HSA
• Mrs. Laura Elniski, HIV Programme Coordinator
• Dr. A. K Kumar, Medical Officer of Health
• Dr. Samuel Williams Clinical Head of General Practice  Department, HSA
• Ms Janett Flynn, Senior Policy Advisor, Ministry of Health
• Dr. Chela Lamsee Ebanks , Peadiatrician , HSA 
• Mr. Timothy McLaughlin, PH Surveillance Officer , HSA
• Mrs. Marcella Greaves, Midwife, HSA
• Mrs. Judith Clarke, Laboratory Manager, HSA
• Mrs. Lavern Swaby, Peadiatrician, HSA
• Mrs. Hamerika Black-Walters, Midwife Maternity Ward, HSA
• Dr. James Robertson, Peadiatrician (private sector)
• Dr. Rommel El-Madany, Obstetrician and Gynaecologist (private sector)

Minister of Health Osbourne Bodden praised the Cayman Islands healthcare community, especially gynaecologists, paediatricians and midwives for maintaining zero levels of MTCT of HIV and congenital syphilis since 2004.