Despite having a health care system that is less developed as other nations in the world such as the United States and countries in Europe, Cuba is currently the first to eliminate the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from mothers to their babies.
Granted, this report doesn't suggest there are no more cases of such in Cuba. However, at only 50 cases per 100,000 live births, the figure is extremely low it no longer poses a threat to society and the country's health care. Moreover, experts of World Health Organization (WHO) believe the number is justified considering the medications for HIV called anti-retroviral drugs do not promise 100% effectiveness rate.
According to Margaret Chan, the director general of WHO, this huge achievement of Cuba can be attributed to many factors. First, the government has provided a universal health care, so everyone already have access to medications and care from health providers. It has also improved its maternal care. At least a million women diagnosed with HIV will get pregnant and give birth. However, if the correct drugs are accessible, the level of transmission will go down from almost 50% to as low as less than 2%.
With the help of WHO, the country's health care consistently monitors the transmission of HIV between individuals especially between partners. The support also doesn't end when women test negative of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases. They extend it to mothers and babies who are infected.
HIV and AIDS are prevalent in the Caribbean regions due to poverty and increased sex tourism. However, Cuba has succeeded to have one of the lowest rates in the region and the rest of the world. Aside from imposing quarantine during the beginning of the epidemic, they also promoted consistent testing especially for at-risk groups such as those involved in male-to-male sex since the early 1990s.
