London, UK – October 14, 2025
Maldives Achieves HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B Milestone, setting a global benchmark in public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially validated the Maldives as the first country in the world to successfully eliminate the mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B—a monumental accomplishment known as “triple elimination.” This validation affirms a triumph of political commitment, comprehensive universal healthcare, and sustained investment in maternal and child well-being, providing a model for nations worldwide.
This historic feat was confirmed by the WHO, which had already validated the island nation for eliminating mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis back in 2019. The latest validation for the elimination of Hepatitis B completes the coveted triple elimination status.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus lauded the achievement, stating that 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, and the suffering they bring, is possible.”
Universal Healthcare: The Engine of Elimination
The success of the Maldives’ aggressive public health campaign is rooted in its integrated and universal health coverage model, which has ensured equitable access to life-saving services across its dispersed islands.
Headline Points
* Global First: Maldives is the first country validated by WHO for the triple elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Syphilis, and Hepatitis B.
* Universal Screening: Over 95% of pregnant women receive antenatal care with nearly universal testing for all three infections during the first trimester.
* Immunisation Success: Over 95% of newborns consistently receive the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine within 24 hours of birth, preventing lifelong infection.
* Free and Equitable Care: The national social health insurance scheme guarantees free antenatal care, testing, and treatment for all residents, including migrant populations.
* Zero New Cases: No babies were born with HIV or syphilis in 2022 and 2023, and a 2023 national survey confirmed zero hepatitis B among young children (first grade of school).
* High Investment: The government backs this commitment with a robust investment of over 10% of its GDP in health.
The data provided by the WHO validates the outcome: no babies were born with HIV or syphilis in the Maldives in 2022 and 2023, while a national survey conducted in 2023 confirmed zero hepatitis B among young children entering the first grade of school.
The core strategy relied on four critical pillars:
1. Near-Universal Antenatal Care and Screening
The archipelago nation ensured that over 95% of pregnant women receive comprehensive antenatal care. This care mandates nearly universal testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B, often during the first trimester. Early diagnosis is the cornerstone of prevention, allowing for timely treatment to block transmission to the infant.
2. Robust Vaccination Programme
The country’s immunization system ensures that more than 95% of newborns consistently receive a timely Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine within 24 hours of birth, followed by full vaccine coverage. This rapid intervention is crucial for preventing chronic Hepatitis B infection, which can lead to liver disease and cancer later in life.
3. Free and Equitable Services
Under the national social health insurance scheme, all Maldivians—and significantly, the resident migrant populations—have access to free antenatal care, diagnostic services, and treatment. This removes major financial barriers to healthcare, ensuring that a mother’s socio-economic status does not determine her child’s health outcome. This commitment is underpinned by the government’s investment of over 10% of its GDP in health.
4. Strong Health Systems and Digitalisation
To manage quality control across its widely dispersed islands, the Maldives invested in strengthened laboratory networks and digital health solutions. Systems like the District Health Information System (DHIS2) and the Electronic Immunization Registry have ensured real-time data monitoring and follow-up for mother-infant pairs, a necessity for meeting the WHO’s stringent validation criteria.
Maldives’ Health Minister, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, hailed the validation as a moment of “immense pride,” pledging to sustain the progress. The achievement is a powerful endorsement of integrated, equitable health systems and stands as a beacon for other countries striving to end the suffering caused by these preventable diseases. The success story showcases that even nations with challenging logistical environments, such as a dispersed archipelago, can achieve the highest global public health standards through sustained political will and commitment to Universal Health Coverage.
