Barbados has achieved a major public health milestone after the World Health Organization (WHO) certified the country for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV as a public health problem.
The announcement, made on October 30, 2026, recognizes the Caribbean nation’s progress in preventing pregnant women living with HIV from passing the virus to their babies.
According to WHO, 98 per cent of pregnant women in Barbados received antenatal care, while the same proportion were tested for HIV. Additionally, 98 per cent of pregnant women living with HIV received antiretroviral treatment. The country also reported no new mother-to-child HIV infections among infants born between 2022 and 2024.
How Barbados achieved the milestone
Barbados’ achievement reflects sustained efforts to integrate HIV testing, treatment and prevention into maternal and child healthcare services.
Early antenatal care allows pregnant women to know their HIV status and access treatment where necessary. Antiretroviral therapy helps suppress the virus, significantly reducing the risk of transmission during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.
Without appropriate intervention, HIV can be transmitted from a mother to her child during these stages. However, timely diagnosis and effective treatment can greatly reduce that risk.
WHO’s certification does not mean HIV has been eradicated or that mother-to-child transmission is impossible. Rather, it confirms that Barbados has met established public health targets for reducing transmission and maintaining access to essential services.
The achievement offers an important example of how consistent testing, access to treatment and strong maternal healthcare programmes can help protect newborns from HIV.
Source: World Health Organization (WHO)
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