In a high-profile ceremony, the Sultanate of Oman will receive tomorrow (Wednesday) the World Health Organization Certification for validation of the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis.

The celebration of Sultanate of Oman's achievement in Eliminating Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis will be held under the auspices of H.E. Dr. Hilal Ali Al Sabti, Minister of Health, with the presence of number of high-ranking  Excellencies and local and international senior health officials.

The Sultanate of Oman has become the first country to be validated in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, achieving hence the global health strategy for the period 2022-2030, which aims to realize the goal of ending MTCT of HIV in at least (50) countries by 2025, and in (100) countries by 2030.

The ceremony will include an opening speech of Dr. Saif Salim Al Abri, MOH’s Director General of Disease Surveillance & Control, a recorded statement of H. E. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General, in addition to statement of H. E. Dr. Ahmed Salim Al Mandhari, WHO Regional Director of Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Moreover, a recorded speech of H.E. Adele Khodr, UNICEF Regional Director will be displayed, and H.E. Dr Shereen El Feki, UNAIDS Regional Director will deliver a speech at the ceremony.

The EMTCT of HIV and Syphilis project was inaugurated in the Sultanate of Oman by a Ministerial decision of His Excellency Minister of Health No. (108/2020) on 28 July 2020. The decision stipulated the formation of a national committee to revise and improve the policies concerning EMTCT of HIV and Syphilis project. (17) experts of various specialties were nominated. The committee was divided into four areas that form foundational requirements for validation; program and service delivery, data, laboratory, and human rights, gender equality and community involvement.

Each area involves an independent technical working group that reviews activities according to WHO assessment lists through conducting interviews and visits  to concerned work sites in addition to documenting the achievements and areas for improvements.  Outcomes were then presented in the national committee meeting for discussion and action. Several meetings and deliberations were held with WHO experts in Sultanate of Oman, EMR office in Qairo, and WHO Headquarter, Geneva. 

It is due to the Sultanate of Oman’s firm commitment to policy and public health, resilient health system; access to high quality maternal and child services, monitoring systems, and community involvement the Sultanate has been validated.

There are many factors that contribute in eliminating EMTCT of HIV and syphilis, which can be outlined in the presence of wise leadership committed to achieving and sustaining the EMTCT of HIV and syphilis, the inclusion of primary health care institutions that provide care to mother and child in all the governorates, high-quality laboratory network,  and the existence of sophisticated systems for HIV treatment in the country. Furthermore, presence of electronic system in all MOH and other health institutions as well at private health establishments, multi-sectoral cooperation, and EMTCT national committee and technical working groups have facilitated this tremendous achievement.  

The Ministry of Health will keep working on the recommendations of the Global Validation Advisory Committee  (GVAC)  for EMTCT to maintain the Sultanate of Oman’ s achievement in  Eliminating Mother to Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis, which will be reviewed by GVAC on March 2025.

In addition, the Ministry will accelerate public-private partnerships to prevent and control HIV and sexually transmitted infections, along with raising awareness among health workers and the people in the Sultanate of Oman.