WTO green lights Turks and Caicos on HIV, Hepatitis B, mother-to-child transmission

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) this week congratulated the Turks and Caicos Islands on being certified for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B. This milestone reflects the territory’s strong commitment to protecting the health of women, children, and families, states a WTO release June 3, 2026.

The Turks and Caicos Islands is the first territory in the Americas to validate the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, marking a significant achievement for the region.

“This certification demonstrates that eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and hepatitis B is achievable with sustained political commitment, strong health systems, and equitable access to care,” said WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who added that an example is being set for countries of the Caribbean and beyond.

“This achievement reflects years of dedicated work to ensure that every pregnant woman and every child have access to timely, quality health services,” added Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO.

“It shows the power of integrated primary health care and the importance of leaving no one behind, including the most vulnerable populations.”

Turks and Caicos achieved this milestone thanks to its resilient and integrated health system, where maternal and child health services are widely accessible and the public and private facilities work in close coordination. Antenatal care is available across all primary care facilities and is free to all women, regardless of nationality or legal status. Routine, opt-out screening for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B is conducted for pregnant women, supported by rapid testing, confirmatory diagnostics, and timely treatment.

High coverage of essential interventions has also been critical to success. More than 95% of pregnant women attend antenatal care and are screened for infections, while over 90% of infants receive timely hepatitis B vaccination, including the birth dose within 24 hours. All infants exposed to HIV receive appropriate follow-up and testing, and comprehensive care is provided to mothers and newborns through integrated services.

The territory has also ensured uninterrupted access to diagnostics and treatment, underpinned by strong surveillance systems and coordinated engagement across the public and private sectors. Targeted efforts to reach migrant populations – through multilingual outreach and community-based services – are complemented by continuous monitoring to ensure timely access to care for highly mobile groups.

“This recognition means that our health system is strong and capable. It shows we are serious about protecting our families and investing in the future of our children,” said Minister of Health and Human Services for the Turks and Caicos Islands Kyle Knowles.

“But we know that it doesn’t stop here. We are continuing to improve on how we track and follow up with babies and mothers, making sure that these services are easily accessed.”

To receive WHO certification, countries must prove they have sustained the following:

Reducing the mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV to less than 2%.

Achieving fewer than 5 new paediatric HIV infections per 1,000 live births.

Maintaining 95% or higher coverage for antenatal care, HIV testing and treatment for pregnant women.