WHO Validates Brazil's Success in Stopping HIV Transmission from Mother to Child

JAKARTA - The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Brazil for the success of eliminating HIV transmission from mother to child. This makes Brazil the most populous country in America to achieve it.

"Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a major public health achievement for any country, especially for a country as large and complex as Brazil," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, quoted from the WHO official website, on Friday, December 19, 2025.

This achievement reflects Brazil's long-term commitment to universal and free access to health services through the Unified Health System (SUS). This is anchored in a strong primary health care system and respect for human rights.

"Brazil has shown that with sustained political commitment and equitable access to quality health services, every country can ensure that every child is born HIV-free, and every mother receives the care she deserves," he added.

Brazil meets all criteria for ending mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Including reducing vertical HIV transmission to below 2 percent and achieving coverage of more than 95 percent for prenatal care, routine HIV testing, and timely treatment for pregnant women living with HIV.

In addition to meeting the validation target, Brazil also showed the delivery of quality services for mothers and their babies. Strong data and laboratory systems, a strong commitment to human rights, gender equality, and community involvement.

This Negraa implements a progressive subnational approach by first certifying states and municipalities, with more than 100 thousand residents.

Then adapt the PAHO/WHO validation methodology to its national context while maintaining coherence across the country.

The evaluation was then supported by PAHO, carried out by independent experts, documentation, and health facility operations, until the WHO Global Validation Advisory Committee officially recommended Brazil's validation for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV.