WHO certifies Barbados for protecting babies from HIV

On October 30, 2026, the World Health Organization, or WHO, announced that Barbados has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV as a public health problem. HIV is a virus that weakens the immune system, which protects the body against infections. It is passed on through certain body fluids, but not through everyday contact such as hugs or sharing food. A mother living with HIV can also pass the virus to her baby during pregnancy, birth or breastfeeding. From 2022 to 2024, no baby born in Barbados was reported to have acquired HIV in this way, WHO says.

The word “elimination” has a special meaning here. Because no treatment is completely effective, it does not mean that the risk has disappeared. Instead, it means that transmission has become so rare that it is no longer considered a public health problem. Without treatment or other care, between 15% and 45% of babies born to mothers living with HIV get the virus, WHO says. To be certified, a country must show that at least 95% of pregnant women receive care during pregnancy and are tested for HIV. At least 95% of pregnant women living with HIV must also receive treatment, and the transmission rate must be below 2%.