Barbados eliminates HIV transmission from mothers to babies

The World Health Organization announced that Barbados has eliminated the transmission of HIV from mothers to children as a public health problem.

This achievement follows several years of consistent efforts to ensure infants are born without the virus. Barbados joined a group of 26 countries and territories recognized by the organization for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, or hepatitis B.

The Americas region currently leads the world in these achievements, with 15 countries and territories in the region reaching these goals. An independent assessment confirmed that Barbados reached the global targets for elimination. The organization reported that no new HIV infections resulting from mother-to-child transmission occurred among infants born in Barbados between 2022 and 2024.