Born free of HIV: Barbados eliminates mother-to-child transmission, WHO confirms

In Barbados, a pregnant woman's HIV diagnosis no longer has to mean her baby's. The World Health Organization has confirmed that Barbados has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV as a public health problem, after an independent assessment checked the island's record for 2022 to 2024: not one new HIV infection in an infant from transmission during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. The system behind it is unglamorous and complete — 98% of pregnant women received antenatal care, 98% were tested for HIV, and 98% of pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral treatment, with testing and treatment free for every pregnant woman regardless of nationality. 'This is universal health coverage in practice,' said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Barbados becomes the fifteenth country or territory in the Americas to earn the recognition.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: institutional program