The Bahamas has been certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, marking a significant public health milestone in the Caribbean region. This achievement reflects years of sustained effort by national health authorities, healthcare workers, and international partners to prevent HIV transmission from mothers to their children during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated The Bahamas on this accomplishment, emphasizing that ensuring children are born free of HIV secures a healthier future for the next generation. The certification was also acknowledged by Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas, who highlighted the role of political commitment and strong national leadership in reaching this goal.
The Bahamas achieved this status through a comprehensive healthcare model that provides universal antenatal care to all pregnant women, regardless of nationality or legal status, across both public and private facilities. This approach is supported by an integrated laboratory network and a rigorous testing protocol that screens women at their first antenatal visit and again in the third trimester.
Elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) interventions are fully integrated into antenatal care standards under the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programme, which coordinates with the National Infectious Disease Programme overseeing HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention, and treatment. This includes offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to pregnant women for HIV prevention, maintaining monitoring for HIV-positive mothers and exposed infants, providing multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral medicines, and delivering STI treatment and family planning services free of charge.
Dr Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness of The Bahamas, credited the collective effort of nurses and doctors across the public and tertiary healthcare systems, as well as clinics throughout the archipelago, for achieving this milestone. He noted that years of dedicated function have gone into addressing HIV/AIDS in the country.
The Bahamas now joins Cuba, which was the first country in the world to receive this certification, and Brazil, which was certified the previous year, as part of a group of 12 countries and territories in the Region of the Americas that have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The country plans to sustain these standards through integrated primary care and continuous surveillance.
To receive WHO certification for EMTCT of HIV, countries must demonstrate sustained reduction of mother-to-child transmission rates to less than 2%, fewer than five new pediatric HIV infections per 1,000 live births, and 95% or higher coverage for antenatal care, HIV testing, and treatment for pregnant women.
Anurita Bains, Global Associate Director for HIV/AIDS at UNICEF, noted that Latin America and the Caribbean continue to lead global efforts in EMTCT, with more than half of all certified countries and territories coming from this region. She described this as a legacy of leadership that inspires worldwide progress.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, stated that The Bahamas’ success shows that eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is achievable through political will, steady investment in primary healthcare, and the dedication of health teams and communities affected by HIV. She emphasized that early testing, prompt treatment initiation, and consistent care improve outcomes for mothers and children.
The Bahamas’ achievement is part of the broader EMTCT Plus Initiative, which aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and congenital Chagas disease. Implemented in collaboration with UNICEF and UNAIDS, this initiative is embedded within PAHO’s Elimination Initiative, a regional effort to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.
For ongoing updates on HIV elimination efforts and public health advancements in the Caribbean, readers can refer to official communications from the World Health Organization, Pan American Health Organization, and UNAIDS.
We encourage readers to share their thoughts on this public health achievement and spread awareness about the importance of maternal and child health initiatives in preventing HIV transmission.