A huge public-health milestone just landed in the Caribbean.
On April 22, 2026, the World Health Organization certified The Bahamas for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, making it the latest country in the Americas to reach a target that once felt almost impossibly ambitious.
What had to happen to get here
To earn certification, countries must sustain transmission rates below strict WHO thresholds, including keeping mother-to-child HIV transmission below 2%, recording fewer than 5 new pediatric HIV infections per 1,000 live births, and maintaining at least 95% coverage for antenatal care, HIV testing, and treatment for pregnant women.
WHO said The Bahamas achieved the milestone through a comprehensive model that offers universal antenatal care regardless of nationality or legal status, backed by a strong lab network, repeated testing during pregnancy, free treatment, and close monitoring for mothers and exposed infants.
A brighter start for the next generation
Officials described the result as the product of years of political commitment and frontline care. The achievement means more babies are being born HIV-free and more families are starting life with less fear, less illness, and more stability.
The Bahamas now joins a leading group of countries and territories in the Americas pushing toward broader elimination goals for HIV and other communicable diseases by 2030.
Sources: World Health Organization, PAHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS
