Mothers and babies can’t wait: A call for action to end mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis
As the World Health Organization (WHO) works toward its goal to eliminate hepatitis B by 2030, the quest to halt hepatitis B mother-to-child transmission has never been more urgent.
Many of the key issues brought into focus over recent years have combined to delay progress of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of hepatitis B. Such issues include racial inequality, discrimination against women, and gross inequalities of healthcare access across the globe.
If we are to reach the 2030 hepatitis B elimination goals, we must address the systemic barriers to PMTCT around the world. Caring for women means providing antenatal care, sexual and reproductive health promotion, and access to essential and lifesaving care. Providing this to mothers, their new-borns and their children is vital for ensuring that hepatitis B is adequately addressed.