Barbados eliminates mother-to-child HIV transmission

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recognized Barbados for eliminating the mother-to-child transmission of HIV as a public health problem. This milestone follows an independent assessment confirming that the country met global targets for elimination.

Between 2022 and 2024, Barbados reported no new HIV infections among infants resulting from mother-to-child transmission. The WHO attributed this success to high coverage of essential maternal health interventions, noting that 98% of pregnant women received antenatal care, 98% underwent HIV testing, and 98% of pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral treatment.

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlighted that Barbados provides free healthcare services to pregnant women regardless of nationality, emphasizing the importance of universal health coverage. Barbados joins 25 other countries and territories worldwide recognized by the WHO for eliminating or being on track to eliminate the transmission of HIV, syphilis, or hepatitis B.