The Bahamas Certified for Eliminating Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission by WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified The Bahamas for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, marking a significant milestone in Caribbean public health.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus congratulated The Bahamas on the achievement, stating it solidifies years of political commitment and the dedication of health workers. He emphasized that ensuring children are born free of HIV secures a healthier, brighter future for the next generation.

Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas, highlighted that the achievement reflects sustained political commitment, strong national leadership, and the dedication and compassion of the health workforce. He noted the milestone as a moment of national pride and an opportunity to build on this success in efforts to end HIV and other communicable diseases as public health threats across the Caribbean and the Americas.

Foundations of success

The Bahamas achieved this milestone through a comprehensive and inclusive health-care model. Universal antenatal care is provided to all pregnant women, regardless of nationality or legal status, across both public and private facilities. What we have is supported by a strong, integrated laboratory network and a rigorous testing protocol that screens women at their first antenatal appointment and again in the third trimester.

Elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) interventions are fully integrated into antenatal care standards and norms under the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) programme. MCH coordinates with the National Infectious Disease Programme, which oversees HIV and other sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and treatment. This includes offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention to pregnant women. The health system ensures continuity of care through adequate monitoring for HIV-positive mothers and exposed infants, multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral medicines, and free STI treatment and family planning services.

Dr Michael Darville, Minister of Health and Wellness of The Bahamas, acknowledged the collective effort behind the achievement, citing nurses in the public health system, doctors and nurses in the tertiary health-care system, and clinics throughout the archipelago as key contributors.

The Bahamas now joins Cuba, the first country in the world to be certified, and Brazil, certified the previous year, as part of a prestigious group of 12 countries and territories in the Region of the Americas leading the EMTCT movement. The country will sustain these standards through integrated primary care and continuous surveillance.

The road to elimination

To receive WHO certification, countries must demonstrate sustained reduction of mother-to-child HIV transmission to less than 2%, fewer than five new pediatric HIV infections per 1,000 live births, and 95% or higher coverage for antenatal care, HIV testing, and treatment for pregnant women.

Anurita Bains, Global Associate Director for HIV/AIDS at UNICEF, noted that Latin America and the Caribbean has long been a beacon of progress in this global effort. She stated that from Cuba to Brazil’s certification last year and now The Bahamas, the region continues to lead with ambition and determination, with more than half of all countries and territories achieving elimination coming from this region.

Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, said The Bahamas shows that eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections is possible. She attributed the achievement to political will for steady investment in primary health care and the work of health teams and people living with and most affected by HIV. She added that when women can test early in pregnancy, start treatment quickly, and stay in care, every child has a better chance of being born free of HIV and other STIs.

The Bahamas’ success is part of the broader EMTCT Plus Initiative, which aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and congenital Chagas disease. Implemented in collaboration with UNICEF and UNAIDS, the initiative is embedded within PAHO’s Elimination Initiative, a regional effort to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.