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By 2015, the majority of children born in the Caribbean will be free of HIV and syphilis.  This is the major objective of an initiative for the elimination of vertical (mother-to-child) transmission of HIV and syphilis in the region.The initiative, which involves the health sectors of the broader Caribbean (English, Dutch, French,Abel Hernandez Uruguay Jersey, and Spanish- speaking countries) is being coordinated jointly by PAHO and UNICEF, with support from UNAIDS,Jose de Jesus Corona Mexico Jersey, UNFPA and other UN agencies, as well as the CARICOM Secretariat.A technical working group (TWG) comprising the major partners and technical experts which would spearhead the intervention met over the past two days from Thursday in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad.The TWG reviewed a concept paper which included the specific targets of the intervention,Edinson Cavani Uruguay Jersey, and identified an action plan involving all the key stakeholders.The intention is to reduce, by 2015,Melker Hallberg Sweden Jersey, the incidence of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in the Caribbean to three cases for every 1000 live births or less; the vertical transmission of HIV to two per cent or less,George Corral Mexico Jersey, and congenital syphilis to five cases per 1000 live births or less.At the moment,Adam Lundqvist Sweden Jersey, the Caribbean has the second highest burden of HIV infection in the world, and mother-to-child transmission of HIV constitutes about 8 – 10% of all HIV transmissions in the Caribbean.  The American region has about four cases of syphilis for every 1000 pregnant women.PAHO’s HIV activities in the Caribbean are being coordinated by the PAHO HIV Caribbean Office (PHCO) which is located in Trinidad.The PHCO was established to rationalise, coordinate and manage the delivery of technical cooperation in HIV in the broader Caribbean.PHCO Head,Alejandro Palacios Mexico Jersey, Dr. Amalia Del Riego, commenting on the initiative, said: “The Caribbean has been a pioneer in eliminating measles and polio. We have the technical capacity,Jean Beausejour Chile Jersey, political will and the desire to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.“We believe that, once again,Erick Pulgar Chile Jersey, the Caribbean will lead the developing world in an important health initiative that will have an extremely positive impact on the health status of this and future generations.”