PAHO/WHO Donates Computers to Strengthen EMTCT Surveillance and Maternal Health Information Systems in The Bahamas

Nassau, The Bahamas, November 3, 2025 - On Friday 31 October 2025, the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) officially handed over a set of desktop computers to the Public Hospitals Authority (PHA) in Nassau, The Bahamas. This donation marks a significant step in strengthening the country's digital infrastructure for Maternal and Child Health (MCH), with a particular focus on the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission (EMTCT Plus) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.

The handover ceremony was held at the PHA Corporate Offices, with PAHO represented by Dr Anton Best, Advisor for Health Systems and Services, and the PHA represented by Dr Keva Thompson, Deputy Managing Director.

The equipment, procured by PAHO with support from the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation and funded by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund, forms part of the regional initiative titled "Strengthening the EMTCT Strategy within Maternal and Child Health Services in CARICOM Member States." This initiative aims to build resilient digital health systems across the Caribbean, enabling comprehensive, timely, and accurate data collection and use for EMTCT Plus and broader MCH programmatic needs.

"This milestone reflects our shared commitment to using digital innovation to strengthen maternal and child health," said Dr Best. "These computers will enhance surveillance, data collection, and integration with the SIP Plus perinatal information system, allowing for real-time monitoring and improved quality of care within Maternal and Child Health services in The Bahamas."

The computers will be deployed to designated clinics in Grand Bahama, where they will be used to strengthen EMTCT-related data management and reporting. This will ensure that every pregnant woman and her newborn can be effectively tracked from antenatal care through post-partum follow-up. The enhanced data systems will support The Bahamas' readiness for EMTCT validation and align with national and regional goals to achieve a generation free of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.

Dr Thompson expressed appreciation for PAHO's ongoing technical cooperation noting that the equipment would "significantly improve the reliability and efficiency of EMTCT surveillance and reporting within the public health system."

PAHO reaffirmed its commitment to working in partnership the Ministry of Health and Wellness and the PHA to strengthen maternal and child health services, integrate digital health tools, and advance toward universal health in The Bahamas.