The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Brazil for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV (EMTCT), making it the most populous country in the Americas to achieve this historic milestone. This achievement reflects Brazil’s long-standing commitment to universal and free access to health services through the Unified Health System (SUS), based on a strong primary health care system and respect for human rights.
“Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a major public health achievement for any country, especially one as large and complex as Brazil,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “Brazil has shown that with sustained political commitment and equitable access to quality health services, any country can ensure that every child is born HIV-free and every mother receives the care she deserves.”
The milestone was marked during a ceremony in Brasilia attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s Minister of Health Alexandre Padilha, and the Director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Dr Jarbas Barbosa, together with representatives of UNAIDS.
Complete validation criteria
Brazil met all criteria for EMTCT validation, including reducing vertical transmission of HIV to less than 2% and achieving more than 95% coverage for prenatal care, routine HIV testing, and early treatment for pregnant women living with HIV. In addition to meeting the goals of the ratification, Brazil demonstrated the provision of quality services for mothers and their infants, strong data and laboratory systems, and a strong commitment to human rights, gender equality, and community involvement.
The country implemented a progressive, sub-national approach by first certifying states and municipalities with more than 100 000 inhabitants, adapting the PAHO/WHO validation methodology to its national context while maintaining consistency across the country.
The assessment, supported by PAHO, was conducted by independent experts who reviewed data, documentation and health facility operations. The findings were then evaluated by the WHO Global Validation Advisory Committee, which formally recommended Brazil’s validation for elimination.
“This achievement shows that eliminating vertical transmission of HIV is possible when pregnant women know their HIV status, receive early treatment, and have access to maternal health services and safe delivery,” said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO. “It is also the result of the tireless dedication of thousands of health professionals, community health workers and civil society organizations. Every day, they maintain the continuum of care, identify barriers and work to overcome them, ensuring that even the most vulnerable populations have access to essential health services.”
Part of a wider initiative
Over the past decade (2015-2024), more than 50,000 pediatric HIV infections have been averted in the Americas region as a result of implementation of the initiative to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
Brazil’s success is part of the wider EMTCT Plus Initiative, which seeks to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and related Chagas, in partnership with UNICEF and UNAIDS. It is embedded in PAHO’s Elimination Initiative, a regional effort to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.
I am delighted that Brazil has just been certified by WHO/PAHO to eliminate vertical transmission – the first country of more than 100 million people to do so. And they did it by doing what we know works – prioritizing universal healthcare, addressing the social determinants driving the epidemic, protecting human rights, and even – when necessary – breaking up monopolies to ensure access to medicines.”
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS
Global context
Brazil is one of 19 countries and territories worldwide that have been endorsed by the WHO for EMTCT. Twelve of them are located in the Americas. In 2015, Cuba became the first country in the world to be certified for EMTCT of HIV and elimination of congenital syphilis. Other countries in the region include Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Montserrat and St. Kitts and Nevis in 2017. Dominica in 2020. Belize in 2023. and Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in 2024.
Outside the Americas, countries approved for HIV EMTCT include Armenia, Belarus, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
