Maternal and child health is a cornerstone of universal health coverage. A critical first step toward saving thousands of lives each year is scaling up the elimination of vertical transmission (EVT) of HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis, which remain leading global causes of preventable child deaths. Simplifying access to these essential interventions through triple elimination programmes can improve health outcomes, strengthen health systems, and support countries in achieving the Global Health Sector Strategies 2030 targets. 

On 20 May 2026, PATH, Unitaid and the World Hepatitis Alliance (WHA) co-organised a side event at the 79th World Health Assembly to explore scaling up integrated EVT of HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis programmes.  

Co-chaired by Dee Lee, President, WHA and Dr Kimberley Green, Global Director for Primary Health Care, PATH, speakers included: 

• Dr Draurio Barreira, Director for Department of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Viral Hepatitis & STIs of the Health and Environment Surveillance Secretariat (SVSA), Ministry of Health Brazil 

• Janet Ginnard, Director of Strategy, Unitaid 

• Dr Tauhid Islam, Team Lead for Strategic Planning, Service Delivery and EMTCT, World Health Organization 

• Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director, Department for HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and STIs, World Health Organization 

• Dr Simbarashe Mabaya, Senior Technical Adviser, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance 

• Dr John Ward, Director, Coalition for the Global Hepatitis Elimination 

The roundtable discussion focused on how to mobilise political will, financing, and resources as well as roll out innovations in technology and service delivery to expand access to cost-effective EVT interventions for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis.  

As of May 2026, 23 countries have achieved single or dual validation of EMTCT of HIV and/or syphilis, including on the Path to Elimination, with the Maldives being the first country to attain validation of triple elimination. With more than 60 countries having expressed interest in the validation of vertical transmission, global progress continues towards integrating these essential services continues to increase, but further action is needed.  

Expert speakers examined how different stakeholders, including civil society and people with lived experience, can collectively work together to drive progress towards triple elimination.  

Key takeaways from the discussion included: 

• Achieving triple elimination is a powerful public health initiative that should be a moral and political imperative for governments. Investing in triple elimination programmes reduces inequalities in access to care and supports human rights and gender equity.  

• Triple elimination programmes continue to face challenges around integration and barriers to care, including stigma and discrimination related to HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.  

• New innovations do not guarantee access to essential services. Deliberate planning is needed to address challenges with triple elimination programmes and ensure that mothers and their families have access to both new and existing interventions.  

• Countries must also increase healthcare worker training, communication and awareness raising about triple elimination to ensure the development of strong, integrated programmes.  

• Integration does not just need to happen within healthcare systems but should also happen at government level with all relevant ministries engaged in the planning of comprehensive, integrated services. 

• There are opportunities to strengthen triple elimination services through further integration with broader maternal and child health services, such as maternal RSV vaccination support.  

• People with lived experience and civil society must be at the heart of triple elimination programmes to ensure that services are person-centred and respond to communities’ needs.