WHO reports Maldives halt mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B
By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – World Health Agency announced on Monday that the Maldives has become the first country to stop mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, hailed the development as a landmark public health achievement.
WHO said that the eliminated transmission of HIV and syphilis from mother to baby and the HIV milestone was proof of its commitment to providing healthcare for all.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO head said that “Maldives has shown that with strong political will and sustained investment in maternal and child health, elimination of mother-to-child transmission of these deadly diseases, and the suffering they bring, is possible,”
The agency noted that Mother-to-child transmission leads to infections that affect millions worldwide.
WHO said that in south east Asia over 8,000 infants were born with congenital syphilis in 2024.
It stressed that over 25,000 HIV-positive pregnant women required treatment to prevent transmission to their babies, while hepatitis B continues to affect more than 42 million people across the region.
UN agency said it will support the Maldives in its efforts to advance broader progress in maternal, child and adolescent health.
