By Zimbabwe Health Ministry
Harare – The Minister of Health Dr. Douglas Mombeshora, on Wednesday officiated at the National Validation Committee meeting for the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B virus in Zimbabwe.
In his address, Dr. Mombeshora framed the meeting as a vital milestone in Zimbabwe’s commitment to ensuring children are born free from preventable infections, viewing the Triple EMTCT agenda as a moral imperative tied to Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals.
Highlighting the country’s progress in integrating these services into routine maternal and child care, he noted that maternal antiretroviral coverage for HIV reached 92% in 2025 while transmission fell to 6.45%, though he emphasized the need to push coverage above 95% and lower transmission below 5%.
He also commended Zimbabwe’s continental leadership in addressing syphilis, where testing hit 95% and Benzathine Penicillin treatment reached 98% in 2025.
Regarding Hepatitis B, the Minister noted that while progress under the 2023–2026 plan has been slower, with surface antigen testing at 15% and treatment at 82% in 2025, the country eagerly anticipates introducing a birth-dose vaccine to complement the current infant immunization schedule and protect newborns from chronic liver conditions. #HealthForAll