The Cuban Experience in the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of Congenital Syphilis

Cuba has had a public health program for the prevention and control of syphilis since 1972 and specifically for congenital syphilis since 1974 that has reduced the incidence of congenital syphilis to less than 0.5 cases per 1000 live births. However, for a well-established health system, the report of a single case ofcongenital syphilis is an embarrassment. Therefore, the aim of the Cuban program has been to strengthen surveillance systems for maternal and congenital syphilis to achieve and maintain the elimination of these diseases through universal and free access to prevention services for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS with a focus on an integrated health systems approach.4