In a historic public health milestone, the World Health Organization (WHO) has certified the Maldives as the first country in the WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of both HIV and syphilis. The achievement underscores the Maldives’ strong commitment to maternal and child health, universal healthcare access, and sustained public health initiatives.

The WHO recognition comes after a rigorous validation process confirming that the country has met global targets and criteria for EMTCT, including high antenatal care coverage, comprehensive HIV and syphilis testing for pregnant women, and effective treatment and follow-up mechanisms.

Dr. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, congratulated the nation, stating, “The Maldives’ achievement is a testament to what is possible when political will, community engagement, and strong healthcare systems come together. It sets a powerful example for other countries in the region to follow.”

Health experts attribute this success to the Maldives’ robust maternal and child health programs, integration of HIV and syphilis testing into routine prenatal care, and strong coordination between public health authorities and community health workers. These sustained efforts have resulted in zero new cases of HIV transmission from mother to child for several consecutive years.

The Ministry of Health, Maldives, expressed pride in the recognition, noting that this milestone aligns with the country’s broader goal of ensuring universal access to quality healthcare. A spokesperson said, “We are proud to have achieved this milestone through collective effort. Our focus will now be on sustaining these results and sharing our learnings with neighboring countries.”

The Maldives joins a select group of nations globally that have successfully eliminated mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and syphilis — a major step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3.3, which aims to end AIDS and other communicable diseases by 2030.

WHO continues to support other South-East Asian countries, including India, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, in scaling up testing, treatment, and surveillance systems to achieve similar success.