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There has been a sharp rise in syphilis infections among pregnant women, a trend disclosed by Dr Adesh Sirjusingh during a Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) handing-over ceremony for telehealth kits and computers aimed at supporting the elimination of mother-to-child transmission.

Speaking with the media after the ceremony at the Health Ministry’s headquarters, Queen’s Park East, Port of Spain, on November 18, Sirjusingh said the rise in cases has been steady and significant.

An obstetrician/gynaecologist, Sirjusingh has overseen major improvements in women’s health, including reductions in maternal and neonatal mortality rates that surpass the targets set by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.