WHO recognizes Barbados for ending mother-to-child HIV transmission as a public health problem

The World Health Organization announced on 30 October 2026 that Barbados had eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV as a public health problem. The designation recognizes the results of a national prevention and care programme; it does not mean that HIV has disappeared from the island.

An independent assessment found no reported HIV infections arising from mother-to-child transmission among infants born in Barbados between 2022 and 2024. During those years, 98 percent of pregnant women received antenatal care, 98 percent were tested for HIV and 98 percent of pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral treatment, according to the WHO.

Testing and treatment are offered free to pregnant women regardless of nationality. The country also provides early testing and follow-up for infants exposed to HIV. Public services, health workers and civil-society partners contributed to the programme, with the Pan American Health Organization supporting the effort.

The certification is an important public-health milestone, but continued progress depends on retaining access to care. WHO said Barbados must maintain surveillance, reliable health information, comprehensive testing and treatment, and follow-up for mothers and children.

The recognition puts Barbados among 26 countries and territories worldwide recognized for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B, or being on track to do so. The announcement illustrates how consistent access to healthcare can reduce preventable infections without suggesting that the broader epidemic is over.