A study on early screening and integrated intervention strategies for pregnant women with HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B virus (HBV) in China has won the
Led by Dr. Wang Ai-Ling and her team from the Center for Women and Children's Health in China, the study focuses on reducing mother-to-child transmission of diseases.
The interventions have prevented approximately 16,000 HIV cases, 140,000 congenital syphilis cases, and 3 million HBV cases among children from 2011-2023.
The strategies developed by her team have been adopted by China and international organizations, setting a model for APEC economies to enhance the health and economic well-being of women and children.
"Our research demonstrates that early screening and integrated interventions for HIV, syphilis and HBV among pregnant women not only improve health outcomes but also yield substantial economic benefits," said
Dr. Wang during the award ceremony on the margins of
APEC Health Working Group meeting in Lima, Peru.
"Through tailored health management strategies for vulnerable populations like pregnant women, economies can reduce the burden of infectious disease and provide a supportive health environment for women and their families," she added.
Dr. Wang's study was selected from a competitive pool of entries with a focus on projects that analyze valuable data and evidence to improve women’s health, enabling them to thrive in the workforce.
Dr. Sok King Ong from Brunei Darussalam is a runner-up for this year's prize, having conducted a study on cervical cancer indicators and the barriers to Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and cervical cancer screening,
The group made up of Dr. Yana Rodgers from the United States, along with Dr. Amanda Guimbeau, Dr. Xinde James Ji, and Dr. Nidhiya Menon, is also runner-up. Their research on the impact of mining activities on women's agency and access to healthcare challenges the traditional perception of the mining industry.
"By calling on policymakers, industry and civil society to invest in women’s health, APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies helps reshape the economic landscape so that women and girls are able to participate fairly and safely at home, in the workforce, or within communities," she added.
The APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Research Prize —launched in 2019 in partnership with EMD Serono— the U.S. healthcare business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, awards US$20,000 to the winning entry, with US$5,000 going to each of the two runners-up.
"In the APEC region, empowering women to realize their economic potential hinges on equitable access to comprehensive health services," said Terri Stewart, Senior Vice-President and head of Global Healthcare Government and Public Affairs for EMD Serono.
The Healthy Women, Healthy Economies initiative aims to improve women's health and economic empowerment through public-private partnerships.
Published in 2015, the Healthy Women, Healthy Economies Policy Toolkit highlights five areas for improving women’s health across five areas: workplace health and safety; health awareness and access; sexual and reproductive health; gender-based violence; and work/life balance.
For more information on the work of the finalists, please visit the APEC Healthy Women, Healthy Economies
website.
Peru is hosting APEC for the third time after the 2008 and 2016 editions.
21 leading economies
APEC is made up of:
Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, People's Republic of China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Chinese Taipei, Thailand, the United States, and Vietnam.
Together, they account for 62% of world's GDP, 48% of global trade in goods and services, plus 38% of the planet's population.
Editor's note: Information provided by the APEC Secretariat.
(END) NDP/MVB