ELIMINATING vertical transmission of HIV requires healthcare systems to focus as much on the mother’s holistic wellbeing as they do on the baby’s safety, says prominent advocate Rebecca Kubunavanua.
Speaking at the 2026 Pacific HIV Symposium at the Sheraton Fiji Golf Resort and Spa yesterday, Ms Kubunavanua emphasised that clinical tools alone cannot achieve long-term success without addressing the human element of healthcare.
“Success is not simply an HIV-negative baby, but success is a healthy baby, a healthy and supportive mother, and a woman who feels respected throughout the journey,” she said.
A woman living with HIV herself, Ms Kubunavanua highlighted how the complex pregnancy cascade often fails mothers after delivery.
While early antenatal care, early diagnosis, and antiretroviral therapy (ART) drastically reduce transmission risks, systemic barriers such as fear of disclosure, financial pressures, transport challenges, and social stigma frequently cause women to drop out of continuous care.
Ms Kubunavanua said health services must actively integrate peer support into formal clinical pathways to bridge the gap between diagnosis and everyday life.
Community-led support provides the essential trust, emotional backup, and guidance that clinical settings often lack.
“Instead of asking why didn’t she comply, perhaps we should ask what happened that made it difficult for her to stay connected to care and how can we help.”
To strengthen national healthcare frameworks, Ms Kubunavanua outlined five priority actions: making antenatal contacts safe spaces, embedding peer support into clinical pathways, measuring the full care cascade, protecting confidentiality, and maintaining robust postnatal support.
She stressed that policies must directly involve women living with HIV
