Authors: Perez Jorge E.¹, Perez Daniel¹, Perez Jorge¹, Gonzalez Ida¹, Lantero María I², Joanes Fiol Jose².

¹Institute of Tropical Medicine (IPK)

² National Program to HIV/AIDS (Ministry of Public Health)

Background: The Cuban government, through the Ministry of Public Health, designed and implemented since 1986, pursued a comprehensive national program to prevent and detect mother to child transmission (MTCT) and treat its consequences in children. The Cuban strategy based on a multi-disciplinary and inter-sectorial approach that combines an emphasis on prevention and early detection with intervention. The health sector delivers a range of maternal, newborn and child health services that can provide a platform for the rapid scale-up in different contexts. The activities of the Cuban HIV/aids program, include prevention of primary HIV infection in women of child-bearing age, prevention of unintended pregnancies among women with HIV/AIDS and HIV transmission from women with HIV/aids to their children, as well as provide care, treatment and support to women, their children and families. In 1993 Cuba implemented a 076 protocol to reduce MTCT, in 2001 put into practice to treat all pregnant women with a CD4 count of <350 cells/mm³ and viral Load > 1000 cps/ml. Since 2008 Cuba introduced ART to all pregnant women, actually with option B+. Objectives: to describe Cuban strategy to reduce MTCT using antiretroviral treatment (ART). Methods: This study collected the results of HIV Cuban national program to eliminate MTCT. Results: One hundred percent of pregnant women were tested for HIV. Interventions available to pregnant women as prophylaxis for mother-to-child transmission prevention include: three HIV testing during the pregnancy and couple counseling in antenatal delivery and other health settings; promotion of dual protection, including condoms.  MTCT of HIV is ≤ 2 % in the last three years. The characteristic of the Cuban epidemic 1986-2013 is: Low-level epidemic (prevalence of 0.19%). The infection rates in children are low: between 1986–2013, 46 cases of perinatal transmission have been recorder out of 877 life birth to HIV+ women. Currently, there are 34 alive patients with ART. Conclusions: The ART to prevent MTCT, to reduce or eliminate new infections of HIV is possible. The contribution of the Cuban HIV program for PMTCT, which is working based on principles of universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. It gives some evidence-based Model Essential Package of integrated health sector interventions.