No new infant infections recorded from 2022 to 2024 as 98% of pregnant women living with HIV received treatment.
By Bunmi Yekini
Barbados has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV as a public health problem, becoming one of 26 countries and territories recognised by the World Health Organization (WHO) for progress towards ending transmission of infectious diseases from mothers to their children.
The WHO announced the achievement on Friday, following an independent assessment that confirmed the Caribbean nation had met global targets for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
No new HIV infections resulting from mother-to-child transmission were reported among infants born in Barbados between 2022 and 2024, according to the assessment.
The achievement was attributed to sustained investment in healthcare services, including free HIV testing and treatment for pregnant women, regardless of nationality, as well as improved access to antenatal care.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated Barbados, saying its approach demonstrated how universal health coverage could protect children from HIV.
“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,” Tedros said.
He noted that 15 countries and territories in the Americas had now received recognition for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B, or being on track to achieve it.
The WHO assessment found that 98% of pregnant women in Barbados received antenatal care during the three-year period, while the same proportion were tested for HIV.
It also found that 98% of pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral treatment, which significantly reduces the risk of transmitting the virus to their babies.
Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas, said the achievement demonstrated that transmission could be prevented when women and children had access to quality healthcare without barriers.
He said the milestone meant more children could be born free of HIV while women living with the virus received the treatment and support they needed.
Barbados’ Health and Wellness Minister Lisa Cummins described the recognition as an important achievement for the country’s public health system.
She said it would allow children to live healthier lives while ensuring that mothers had access to treatment during pregnancy.
The achievement followed years of collaboration between the Barbados government, PAHO/WHO and other partners to strengthen HIV services, disease surveillance and the quality of healthcare.
Under the country’s universal healthcare system, HIV testing and treatment are provided free of charge to pregnant women through public clinics and hospitals.
The WHO also noted that HIV testing in Barbados was voluntary and confidential, with no evidence of coercive reproductive health practices involving women living with HIV.
The country will, however, need continued investment in healthcare services, stronger health information systems, updated treatment guidelines and improved follow-up care for women and children to maintain its elimination status.
Barbados joins recent recipients of WHO recognition, including the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos in 2026, Brazil in 2025, and Jamaica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2024.
The recognition forms part of global efforts to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and other infectious diseases through accessible maternal and child health services.
UNICEF, UNAIDS and other global health partners also welcomed the achievement, crediting healthcare workers, civil society organisations, people living with HIV and government leaders for sustaining access to testing, treatment and care.