Bahamas Eliminates Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission
By Health Correspondent
The World Health Organization has confirmed that The Bahamas has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV, a major public health milestone.
Health leaders say the success comes after years of strong political support, national leadership, and the dedication of healthcare workers.
The country introduced a wide-reaching healthcare system that ensures all pregnant women—regardless of nationality or status—can access free prenatal care, HIV testing, and treatment.
Women are tested early in pregnancy and again later, with quick access to treatment if needed. Ongoing care is provided for mothers and babies, including free medication, monitoring, and support services.
To gain certification, countries must meet strict targets.
These include keeping HIV transmission from mother to child below 2%, recording very low numbers of new infections in babies, and maintaining high levels of testing and treatment coverage.
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The Bahamas now joins a small group of countries in the Americas that have achieved this goal, following leaders such as Cuba and Brazil.
Officials say the focus now is on maintaining these high standards and building on this success to tackle HIV and other infectious diseases across the region.
