Maldives Becomes First Country to Achieve Triple Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, Syphilis & Hepatitis B
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being | SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
Institution: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
On 13 October 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) officially validated the Maldives as the world’s first country to achieve “triple elimination” of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.
Previously, Maldives had been validated by WHO for eliminating MTCT of HIV and syphilis (in 2019). The latest validation adds hepatitis B to that list, marking a historic public health milestone.
This success was enabled by sustained high coverage of antenatal care (> 95 %), near-universal screening of pregnant women for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, and robust immunisation systems ensuring timely birth dose and full vaccination of newborns. In 2022–23, Maldives reported zero perinatal HIV or syphilis cases, and a 2023 school survey confirmed zero hepatitis B infections among young children—exceeding elimination thresholds.
The Maldives success underscores how political commitment, integrated health systems, universal health coverage, equitable service access (including for migrants), data systems, and health infrastructure can together deliver elimination of infections that previously burdened maternal and child health. WHO lauded the Maldives as a global exemplar showing that even geographically fragmented nations can achieve such public health goals with the right strategies.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can other countries scale similar integrated systems, especially where health infrastructure, coverage, or resource constraints are large, to replicate Maldives’ achievement?
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