Brazil Becomes First Large Nation to End Vertical HIV
Geneva: Brazil has been formally validated by the World Health Organization (WHO) for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), marking a landmark public health achievement for the most populous country in the Americas and placing it among a small group of nations worldwide to reach this threshold. The certification, announced on December 18, recognises decades of sustained investment in universal health care, strong primary services and rights-based public policy.
The recognition was conferred following a rigorous evaluation process and was formally marked at a ceremony in Brasília attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, senior officials from the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and representatives of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS. For Brazil, the validation underscores the central role of its Unified Health System, which provides free and universal access to health services and has been the backbone of maternal and child health programmes across the country.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the achievement as especially significant given Brazil’s size, diversity and complexity. He said the country had demonstrated that with sustained political commitment and equitable access to quality health services, it is possible to ensure that children are born free of Human Immunodeficiency Virus while mothers receive continuous and dignified care.
To meet WHO’s elimination benchmarks, Brazil reduced the rate of Human Immunodeficiency Virus transmission from mother to child to below two per cent and achieved coverage levels exceeding ninety-five per cent for prenatal care, routine Human Immunodeficiency Virus testing and timely treatment for pregnant women living with the virus. Beyond numerical targets, the assessment also examined the quality of care provided to mothers and infants, the strength of laboratory and health-information systems, and the country’s adherence to principles of human rights, gender equality and community participation.
Brazil adopted a phased, subnational strategy to reach elimination, initially certifying states and municipalities with populations exceeding 100,000. This approach allowed the country to adapt the PAHO–WHO validation framework to local conditions while maintaining national consistency. Independent experts, supported by the PAHO, reviewed health-facility operations, documentation and epidemiological data before their findings were submitted to the WHO’s Global Validation Advisory Committee, which ultimately endorsed Brazil’s certification.
Pan American Health Organization Director Jarbas Barbosa said the milestone reflects the effectiveness of early diagnosis, prompt treatment and comprehensive maternal health services, combined with the day-to-day efforts of health professionals, community workers and civil society organisations. He noted that continuity of care and targeted outreach have been critical in reaching vulnerable and hard-to-access populations.
Brazil’s validation comes within the broader regional push to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and other infections. Between 2015 and 2024, more than 50,000 paediatric Human Immunodeficiency Virus infections were prevented across the Americas through the regional elimination initiative. Brazil’s programme is also part of the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission Plus Initiative, which targets Human Immunodeficiency Virus, syphilis, hepatitis B and congenital Chagas disease, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS. This effort is embedded within the Pan American Health Organization’s wider Elimination Initiative, which aims to eliminate more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030.
Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima described Brazil’s certification as a global milestone, noting that it is the first country with a population exceeding 100 million to eliminate vertical transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus. She attributed the success to policies that prioritised universal health coverage, addressed the social determinants of health, protected human rights and, when necessary, challenged monopolies to secure affordable access to essential medicines.
Globally, Brazil becomes one of 19 countries and territories validated by the World Health Organization for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, with twelve of them located in the Americas. Cuba became the first country in the world to receive validation in 2015, followed by several Caribbean nations over subsequent years. Other validated countries outside the region include Armenia, Belarus, Malaysia, the Maldives, Oman, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
Public health experts say Brazil’s achievement demonstrates that elimination is attainable even in large and socially diverse societies, provided political commitment, universal access to care and robust public health systems are sustained over time.
– global bihari bureau
