By Bunmi Yekini
Geneva – Botswana has become the first country in the world to achieve the prestigious gold tier status on the Path to Elimination of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced during the plenary session of the 78th World Health Assembly.
The milestone recognizes Botswana’s significant progress in reducing new pediatric HIV infections and expanding maternal health services. The country met the gold tier requirements by lowering annual case rates of new pediatric HIV infections from under 500 to below 250 per 100,000 live births, and increasing coverage of antenatal care, HIV testing, and treatment among pregnant women living with HIV from 90% to 95%.
“Botswana’s achievement is a beacon of hope in the global fight against HIV,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus as he presented the award. “This shows what is possible with strong leadership, community involvement, and an unwavering commitment to public health.”
Botswana had previously made history in 2021 by being the first country to achieve silver tier status. In just three years, it progressed to gold thanks to coordinated efforts by the Ministry of Health, healthcare partners, and local communities. Key strategies included revitalizing primary healthcare systems, integrating HIV services at all levels, and improving the quality of community-based interventions.
To qualify for any tier in the Path to Elimination, countries with a maternal HIV prevalence above 2% must demonstrate robust healthcare services for pregnant women and their infants, reliable data and lab systems, and a rights-based approach to service delivery.
The WHO introduced the tiered Path to Elimination system in 2017, with bronze, silver, and gold levels recognizing varying degrees of progress. Last year, Namibia was awarded bronze status for HIV MTCT elimination and silver status for eliminating hepatitis B virus transmission from mother to child.
The WHO encourages nations to work toward “triple elimination” of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B as public health priorities, promoting integrated care for pregnant women and their children.
With this new recognition, Botswana cements its position as a global leader in HIV prevention and maternal-child health.