The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday that it is now possible to provide pregnant women with double test kits for less than US$1 to prevent the spread of HIV and syphilis from mother to child.  

Thanks to the new partnership between the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), MedAccess and SD Biosensor, low cost is possible. 

Every year, approximately 1.3 million women infected with HIV become pregnant, while fewer than 1 million pregnant women are infected with syphilis.   

Although affordable diagnosis and treatment are available, undiagnosed and untreated infections continue to affect the lives of many mothers and their children. 

According to the WHO, rapid diagnostic tests are simple to use and can integrate and simplify services. They can also enable more countries to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis. 

For Meg Doherty, WHO's Global HIV, Hepatitis and STI [Sexually Transmitted Diseases] Program Director, the new pricing is an exciting development. 

She said: "This will help more countries adopt HIV/syphilis dual testing, accelerate the process of HIV and syphilis EMTCT, and provide services to key populations where both infections are common."  

Since 2019, WHO has recommended the use of these tests. Not only as the first line of prenatal care to help countries eliminate mother-to-child transmission, but also as a way to reduce costs. 

To date, the agency has passed the prequalification of three different HIV/syphilis dual rapid tests. 

Many countries have adopted these recommendations and are introducing tests, especially in the African region. 

WHO estimates that last year, major donors and governments purchased more than 5 million such tests-and this number should continue to increase. 

For example, Nigeria launched a pilot program in 2019 and is currently moving towards a nationwide implementation. As the state plans to distribute four million in the coming year. 

However, despite some important progress, the global adoption of HIV/syphilis dual rapid testing in antenatal care is far from ideal, with only 23% of countries reporting national policies. 

Leading the global fight against HIV and AIDS in the United Nations plan, the United Nations AIDS Program released a report with partners that nearly half of the 1.7 million children infected with HIV worldwide did not receive treatment last year.