On October 18, the National Health Commission held a press conference where Shen Haiping, Director of the Maternal and Child Health Department, shared some significant updates. He reported that the testing rates for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B among pregnant and postpartum women in China have now surpassed 99%, effectively achieving a state where anyone who desires testing can access it.
Shen emphasized the heightened risk of cervical cancer among HIV-positive individuals and underscored that HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B are critical public health issues significantly affecting the community. Mother-to-child transmission remains a primary route for spreading these infections to children. To safeguard children’s health and prevent the intergenerational transmission of these diseases, the National Health Commission has placed a strong focus on preventing mother-to-child transmission. In response to international initiatives to eliminate pediatric HIV and congenital syphilis, China incorporated the prevention of these infections into the national public health services starting in 2009. By 2015, the program had achieved nationwide coverage of the target population.
According to Shen, the implementation of this initiative has created a collaborative framework involving government leadership, coordination by health departments, multi-sector engagement, and the participation of social organizations. Localities have integrated mother-to-child transmission prevention with standard maternal and child health services, providing free testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B during routine prenatal checkups and child health care visits. Furthermore, efforts are made to ensure that infected mothers and their children receive the necessary interventions, including enhanced treatment rates, safe childbirth practices, and proper nutritional guidance.
Shen reported that due to persistent efforts, the HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B testing rates among pregnant women have reached over 99%, with intervention measures for infected mothers and their children exceeding 90%. Notably, in 2023, the mother-to-child transmission rate for HIV dropped from 34.8% before interventions to just 1.3%. The reported incidence of congenital syphilis fell to 6.3 per 100,000, reflecting a reduction of over 90% compared to 2011, and the hepatitis B infection rate among children under five is now below 1%, greatly benefiting child health.
Since 2022, the National Health Commission has launched actions aimed at eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, paralleling efforts to combat cervical cancer. By 2023, the mother-to-child transmission rates in five provinces, including Beijing, Jiangsu, Hunan, Guangdong, and Yunnan, have reached low levels, achieving elimination goals.
Looking ahead, Shen noted that the focus is now on accelerating efforts in other provinces to reach the elimination targets for mother-to-child transmission of these diseases. He expressed hope that relevant provinces would actively take steps to enhance organization, coordination, and services, thereby improving maternal and child health outcomes and ensuring that our children remain healthy and experience fewer illnesses.
