Bahamas Eliminates Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission

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NASSAU , BAHAMAS – The Bahamas is among 12 nations worldwide to be recognized and certified by the World Health Organization for achieving the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission.

The recognition ceremony, held at the Warwick Hotel, saw key health officials locally and internationally celebrate The Bahamas on this milestone.

Leading the effort in The Bahamas was Dr. Nikkiah Forbes, Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme at the Ministry of Health.

She said that the country has now met strict global targets, meaning transmission from mother to baby is no longer considered a major public health threat.

Dr. Nikkiah Forbes – Director, Nat’l HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme

“There were some key indicators that had to be met for The Bahamas to be rigorously assessed to achieve this validation, and here are what those indicators are. Mother-to-child transmission rates of HIV have to be less than or equal to two percent, and that’s the global target. The perinatal HIV incidence is about 0.2 per thousand live births, and that’s well below the target, which was 0.3 per thousand live births.”

During the period 2022 to 2024, just two cases of transmission were recorded out of nearly 10,000 births.

That’s well below the global target.

With almost 98 percent of expecting mothers receiving antenatal care, and more than 97 percent being tested for HIV during pregnancy, Forbes said that this success is the result of years of consistent work.

Health and Wellness Minister Dr. Michael Darville also weighed in on the achievement.

Dr. Michael Darville – Minister, Health and Wellness

“It shows that our system in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas is working. What makes this achievement especially significant for the partners is the level of coordination that is required to deliver it. Maternal and child health services, infectious disease programs, laboratory services, primary healthcare delivery systems, and hospital-based care have worked together as one connected system.”

Health officials said that the next step is making sure no one is left behind, as the country pushes toward its goal of ending AIDS by 2030.

According to Forbes, the latest HIV figures show progress but also highlight gaps.

About 95 percent of people living with HIV know their status, but only 78 percent are currently on treatment.

By 2024, new infections had fallen by 47 percent compared to 2010 levels, and AIDS-related deaths had declined by 58 percent.

As for more positive news, more than 90 percent of those on treatment have their viral load under control.

Dr. Nikkiah Forbes – Director, Nat’l HIV/AIDS and Infectious Disease Programme

“There are many, many ways that one can get an HIV test. It can be at a provider’s office, you can walk into a lab, and we also have self-testing. We introduced self-testing about two to three years ago, where you can go into a pharmacy and buy a self-test kit. We are getting persons on HIV treatment, and we are seeing more and more that those people who are on treatment are doing very well. They’re reaching the undetectable gold standard of not having any detectable copies of HIV in their blood samples.”