Turks and Caicos Islands has achieved a major public health milestone by receiving WHO certification for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of both HIV and hepatitis B. As the third Caribbean territory to reach this distinction—following Cuba in 2015 and Anguilla—the island nation now joins only 14 countries and territories worldwide with dual certification. The achievement reflects sustained success in reducing HIV transmission to less than 2% and hepatitis B surface antigen prevalence to less than 2% among children under five years old. This certification demonstrates that comprehensive antenatal screening and treatment programs are highly effective, even in small island developing states where resource constraints often present significant challenges. The Caribbean region’s leadership in eliminating mother-to-child transmission serves as an encouraging model for other nations pursuing similar public health goals.
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