Barbados has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV as a public health problem, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced, marking a major public health milestone resulting from years of sustained efforts to ensure babies are born free of HIV.

“I congratulate Barbados on protecting a generation of children from HIV,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Barbados has shown what universal health coverage looks like in practice: free services for every pregnant woman, regardless of nationality, and care that respects her rights and privacy. With 15 countries and territories in the Americas now recognized, the region continues to show the world the way.”

Barbados now joins a group of 26 countries and territories worldwide recognized by WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B, or for being on track to achieve it. Fifteen are in the Americas, making the region the global leader in these achievements.