In a historic achievement for Caribbean public health, the World Health Organization (WHO) congratulates the Bahamas for becoming the latest Caribbean nation to be certified as having eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
I congratulate The Bahamas on this outstanding achievement, which reinforces years of political commitment and dedication of health workers. “By ensuring that children are born free of HIV, we are securing a healthier, brighter future for the next generation.”
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
“This achievement reflects the dedication and compassion of the health workforce, as well as sustained political commitment and strong national leadership,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and WHO Regional Director for the Americas. “As we look ahead, this milestone is not only a moment of national pride, but also an opportunity to build on this success, leading efforts to end HIV and other communicable diseases as public health threats in the Caribbean and the Americas.”
foundation of success
The Bahamas achieved this milestone by introducing a comprehensive and inclusive health care model. Key to this success is the provision of universal antenatal care to all pregnant women, regardless of nationality or legal status, in both public and private facilities. This approach is supported by a strong, integrated laboratory network and a rigorous testing protocol that screens women at their first prenatal appointment and again in the third trimester.
In the Bahamas, interventions for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) have been fully integrated into antenatal care standards and norms and implemented under the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program. The MCH coordinates with the National Infectious Disease Program, which oversees the prevention and treatment of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This also included the introduction of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention, which is also offered to pregnant women. To ensure continuity of care, the health system conducts adequate surveillance of HIV-positive mothers and exposed infants, dispenses antiretroviral drugs for several months, and provides free STI treatment and family planning services.
“For years, The Bahamas has been working very hard to address the HIV/AIDS situation,” said Dr. Michael Darvill, Bahamas Minister of Health and Wellness. “There have been so many people involved in achieving this great milestone – our nurses in our public health system, our nurses and doctors in our tertiary health care system and, by extension, all the clinics across our archipelago.”
From Cuba, the first country in the world to be certified, and from Brazil – Having been certified last year, The Bahamas now joins an elite group of 12 countries and territories in the Region of the Americas at the forefront of the eMTCT movement. The Bahamas will continue efforts to maintain these standards through integrated primary care and ongoing monitoring.
path of elimination
To achieve WHO certification, countries must prove that they have maintained the following:
- reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission rates to less than 2%;
- achieving less than 5 new pediatric HIV infections per 1000 live births; And
- Maintain 95% or more coverage for antenatal care, HIV testing and treatment for pregnant women.
“Latin America and the Caribbean have long been symbols of progress in this global effort. From Cuba – the first country in the world to be certified – to Brazil’s certification last year, and now to the Bahamas, the region is leading with ambition and determination. Today, more than half of all countries and territories achieving elimination are from the region. It is a legacy of leadership that inspires the world,” said Alvarez, Global Associate Director of HIV/AIDS at UNICEF. Anurita Bains said.
“The Bahamas is showing that it is possible to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” said Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director. “This achievement reflects political will for sustained investment in primary health care and the work of health teams and people living with and most affected by HIV. When women can get tested early in pregnancy, start treatment early and stay in care, every baby 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, this 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.
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