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Maldives Becomes World’s First Country to Achieve ‘Triple Elimination’ of Mother-to-Child Disease Transmission

Historic Public Health Milestone In a landmark achievement, the World Health Organization (WHO) has validated that the Maldives has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B,...

Oct 14
2 min read
Maldives Becomes World’s First Country to Achieve ‘Triple Elimination’ of Mother-to-Child Disease Transmission

Historic Public Health Milestone

In a landmark achievement, the World Health Organization (WHO) has validated that the Maldives has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B, while sustaining its previous validation for HIV and syphilis. This makes the Maldives the first country globally to achieve what WHO calls ‘triple elimination’.

“The 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 is possible,” said WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

Impact and Regional Context

Mother-to-child transmission remains a major global public health concern. In the WHO South-East Asia Region, provisional 2024 estimates indicate:

  • Over 23,000 pregnant women had syphilis, leading to more than 8,000 congenital syphilis cases.

  • Around 25,000 HIV-positive pregnant women required treatment to prevent transmission.

  • Hepatitis B affected more than 42 million people.

“The Maldives' achievement is a testament to its unwavering commitment to universal health coverage, delivering quality care across its islands, including to migrants,” said Dr. Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Office.

Key Drivers of Success

The Maldives’ success is credited to a comprehensive, integrated approach to maternal and child health:

  • Over 95% of pregnant women receive antenatal care.

  • Nearly universal testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B.

  • A strong immunisation system, with timely hepatitis B birth doses and full vaccine coverage for infants.

Results speak for themselves: no babies were born with HIV or syphilis in 2022 and 2023, while a 2023 national survey found zero hepatitis B cases among school-aged children, surpassing global elimination targets.

Sustained Investment in Health

These achievements are underpinned by universal health coverage, providing free antenatal care, vaccines, and diagnostic services for all residents, including migrants. The Maldives invests over 10% of its GDP in health, supported by strong policies and infrastructure.

“This historic validation reflects our nation’s commitment to protecting mothers, children, and future generations,” said Health Minister Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim. “Triple elimination is a milestone and a pledge to continue investing in resilient, equitable, and high-quality health services that leave no one behind.”