The global effort to end vertical HIV transmission and improve maternal and child health has taken a bold step forward with the launch of the HIV Impact Network for Vertical Transmission Elimination (HIVE). Convened by ICAP at Columbia University in partnership with Pediatric-Adolescent Treatment Africa (PATA), in Johannesburg, South Africa, from December 4-6, 2024, this milestone event signaled the start of a new era—one driven by collaboration, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to ensuring that no child is born with HIV.

Bringing together leaders from various governments, global health organizations, donor agencies, and frontline health care providers, HIVE is set to accelerate progress in eliminating vertical HIV transmission across six high-burden African countries: Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia. With funding from the Gates Foundation and implementation support from ICAP and PATA, this initiative will focus on closing critical gaps in prevention, testing, and treatment for pregnant women and infants over the next two years.

Despite significant strides in HIV prevention, thousands of infants are still born with HIV every year due to barriers in health care access, treatment retention, and early infant diagnosis. HIVE is designed to tackle these persistent challenges by ensuring that pregnant women living with HIV are identified, linked to care, and supported throughout their journey. The initiative will also expand early infant HIV testing and treatment during the critical breastfeeding period—one of the highest-risk windows for transmission.

By fostering collaborative learning and technical assistance, HIVE will empower participating countries to scale up best practices and strengthen health systems. This groundbreaking initiative is represents a major step toward a future where every mother and child have access to the care they need, and where new pediatric HIV infections are eliminated.

Inside the HIVE Launch

The HIVE Launch Meeting was a dynamic three-day gathering where stakeholders shared best practices, discussed challenges, and set the course for national action plans. Key highlights included:

• Plenary sessions on global strategies for vertical transmission elimination
• Country presentations highlighting successes, gaps, and areas for improvement
• Breakout discussions using the Vertical Transmission Elimination (VTE) Capability Maturity Model (CMM) to assess progress
• Strategic planning sessions where country teams developed customized 2025 action plans

The atmosphere was charged with determination and urgency, as attendees acknowledged both the progress made and the work still ahead. One key theme emerged: HIVE is not just about policy, it is about action, collaboration, and accountability.

Watch the launch video to hear some of thoughts by participants on the launch’s impact and the potential for cross-country learning and innovation.

Voices of HIVE

“This program is so important because it will bring countries together in a learning, collaborative way. They will be able to share best practices and develop strategic programs to reach the children we are missing in both prevention and treatment. This is what we have longed for in the 21st century—no child should be born with HIV, and no child with HIV should go without treatment.”
— Lillian Mworeko – Executive Director, The International Community of Women living with HIV Eastern Africa (ICWEA)

“I’m very excited about the HIVE project. The learning network is a much-needed addition at this stage of the response. The Capability Maturity Model tool, which I had the privilege to review when it was first developed, is truly unique. It has enabled countries to self-reflect on their programs in ways they had never done before. This is a powerful addition to the response and the renewed momentum to end AIDS in children.”
— Paula Munderi -Auberson– Team Lead, Science, HIV Testing and Treatment, Pediatrics, UNAIDS

“The model is good because it actually gives us a broader view of our performance. In areas where we thought improvement was impossible, we now see other countries successfully managing them. This shared learning helps us see that we, too, can make an impact. That is what we are taking home—it does not end here.”
— Gugu Shabangu – Chief Director, HIV/AIDS & STI’s, South Africa National Department of Health

“We are really excited about HIVE because we believe it will help synchronize country plans with what actually happens at the frontline of service delivery. This is not just about country-to-country learning, but also about fostering learning within districts—ensuring that the best strategies are reaching the communities that need them the most.”
— Agnes Ronan – Head of Programmes, PATA

With the launch complete, the real work begins. Each country has now begun implementing its customized 2025 action plan, focusing on:

• Expanding HIV testing and treatment for pregnant women
• Ensuring retention in care for mothers and infants after childbirth
• Scaling up early infant HIV testing and linkage to treatment

ICAP and PATA will provide ongoing technical assistance, data-sharing platforms, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure that these plans translate into real-world impact.

By combining country-driven solutions, cutting-edge data tools, and global collaboration, HIVE is charting a path toward a world where no child is born with HIV.  Through strong partnerships, knowledge-sharing, and targeted interventions, HIVE will help transform national health systems and bring us closer to the goal of ending pediatric HIV.

Stay tuned for updates on HIVE’s progress as participating countries put their action plans into motion.