Kigali AIDS Summit Highlights Breakthrough Test for Pregnant Women

The integrated testing approach was approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) last Friday and is expected to simplify and improve early detection and treatment of these infections during pregnancy.

The five-day conference, which has drawn more than 3,000 participants from around the world, highlighted the significance of this breakthrough in maternal health. Health officials said the method is expected to reduce the number of missed diagnoses, especially in low-resource settings.

Dr. Gallican Rwibasira Nshogoza, who oversees HIV, hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), said the country welcomes the new method and looks forward to its impact on maternal and newborn health.

“This integrated testing will make it easier for mothers to know their status and get timely care,” he said.

According to WHO estimates, between 37 and 45 million people worldwide were living with HIV in 2024. Each year, about 3.5 million people are infected with syphilis, while 2.5 million contract hepatitis B.

In Rwanda, approximately 300,000 pregnant women are tested each year. Of those, 98% are screened for HIV, 97% for hepatitis B, and 70% for syphilis, according to RBC.

Ambassador Professor Deborah Birx, a global health expert attending the conference, said Africa has the capacity and leadership needed to tackle epidemics and improve public health outcomes.

The international laboratory and diagnostics company Abbott, one of the world’s top 25 institutions involved in HIV research and treatment development, is among the organizations participating in the Kigali conference.