Turks and Caicos Islands certified for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B
Key Points(5)
- The milestone was announced on Tuesday by the WHO and PAHO, which praised the British Overseas Territory's commitment to protecting the health of women, children and families through strong public health policies and accessible healthcare services.
- “This certification demonstrates that eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B is achievable with sustained political commitment, strong health systems, and equitable access to care,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO.
- “This achievement reflects years of dedicated work to ensure that every pregnant woman and every child have access to timely, quality health services,” said Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO.
- “It shows the power of integrated primary health care and the importance of leaving no one behind, including the most vulnerable populations.” Health authorities noted that antenatal care is available free of charge to all women in the territory, regardless of nationality or immigration status.
- Pregnant women routinely undergo screening for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, supported by rapid testing, confirmatory diagnostics and treatment services.
The Turks and Caicos Islands has been certified by the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B, becoming the first territory in the Americas to achieve validation for the elimination of hepatitis B transmission from mother to child.
The milestone was announced on Wednesday by the WHO and PAHO, which praised the British Overseas Territory's commitment to protecting the health of women, children and families through strong public health policies and accessible healthcare services.
“This certification demonstrates that eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B is achievable with sustained political commitment, strong health systems, and equitable access to care,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the WHO. “The Turks and Caicos Islands are setting an example for countries of the Caribbean and beyond.”
According to health officials, the achievement reflects years of investment in maternal and child healthcare, including universal access to prenatal services, routine screening for infectious diseases during pregnancy, and timely treatment and follow-up care for mothers and infants.
“This achievement reflects years of dedicated work to ensure that every pregnant woman and every child have access to timely, quality health services,” said Jarbas Barbosa, director of PAHO. “It shows the power of integrated primary health care and the importance of leaving no one behind, including the most vulnerable populations.”
Health authorities noted that antenatal care is available free of charge to all women in the territory, regardless of nationality or immigration status. Pregnant women routinely undergo screening for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, supported by rapid testing, confirmatory diagnostics and treatment services.
More than 95 percent of pregnant women receive prenatal care and infection screening, while over 90 percent of newborns receive hepatitis B vaccinations on time, including the critical birth dose within 24 hours of delivery. Infants exposed to HIV also receive ongoing monitoring and testing.
Officials credited the success to close collaboration between public and private healthcare providers, uninterrupted access to diagnostic and treatment services, and targeted outreach efforts aimed at migrant communities through multilingual and community-based programs.
“This recognition means that our health system is strong and capable. It shows we are serious about protecting our families and investing in the future of our children,” said Kyle Knowles, the territory's minister of health and human services. “But we know that it doesn’t stop here. We are continuing to improve on how we track and follow up with babies and mothers, making sure that these services are easily accessed.”
To receive WHO certification, jurisdictions must demonstrate that mother-to-child HIV transmission rates have been reduced to below 2 percent, fewer than five new pediatric HIV infections occur per 1,000 live births, and that at least 95 percent of pregnant women receive antenatal care, HIV testing and treatment when necessary.
Health organizations emphasized that maintaining certification will require continued investment, strong surveillance systems and equitable access to healthcare services.
“This achievement is truly momentous,” said Anurita Bains of UNICEF. “It represents a major milestone for public health and for the global HIV response, marking an important step towards our shared goal of ending AIDS among children by 2030.”
Luisa Cabal, regional director of UNAIDS, said the achievement reflects strong political leadership and the dedication of healthcare workers and communities affected by HIV.
The Turks and Caicos Islands now joins a growing group of countries and territories across the Americas that have eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, advancing regional efforts to end preventable infections among newborns.
