The Maldives has made history by becoming the first country in the world to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B. The World Health Organisation (WHO) officially recognised and congratulated the Maldives for achieving the remarkable milestone, a major accomplishment in the nation’s health sector.
The Maldives’ success in eliminating these three infectious diseases represents one of the most significant achievements in the country’s longstanding fight against communicable diseases. Under the National Vaccination Campaign, launched in 1976, the Maldives has implemented effective vaccination and prevention programmes with the support of WHO and other partners.
The Hepatitis B vaccine was introduced in the Maldives in 1993 as part of the National Vaccination Programme to eradicate the disease. The first dose of the vaccine is given to the baby within the first 24 hours after birth. Screening for HIV and hepatitis B has also been made compulsory during pregnancy.
As a result of these sustained efforts, the Maldives has successfully controlled hepatitis B transmission after 32 years of continuous work. The WHO announced this recognition during the WHO Regional Committee meeting for South-East Asia, held in Sri Lanka.
While the Maldives had already achieved the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis and HIV in 2019, the inclusion of hepatitis B to this list makes the Maldives the first country to achieve the historic ‘triple elimination’ of these three diseases.
This milestone is a testament to the decades of commitment and dedication of health professionals across the Maldives, both in Male’ and throughout the atolls, who have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety of mothers and infants from life-threatening diseases.
The Maldives’ achievement serves as an example to nations worldwide, proving that even a small, geographically dispersed country can overcome major health challenges through strong public health systems, collaborations and a unified national effort.
Following the achievement, President Dr Mohamed Muizzu expressed his appreciation to all health professionals, communities, and partners whose unwavering dedication made this achievement possible.
Sharing a post by the World Health Organization (WHO) on his official X account, which confirmed the Maldives as the first country in the world to attain this recognition, the President said the Maldives is proud of the achievement.
“Today, the Maldives makes history. We are proud to be the first country in the world to achieve 'triple elimination' of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B. It is a remarkable milestone officially recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO).”
The President acknowledged the efforts of the health professionals and communities and partners in achieving the status.
“My heartfelt appreciation goes out to all health professionals, communities, and partners whose unwavering dedication made this historic achievement possible,” he wrote.
The Maldives’ achievement reflects the government’s continued commitment to advancing public health and preventive healthcare. WHO highlighted that the achievement demonstrates strong collaboration between the government, private health providers, civil society, and international partners, working together in screening, service delivery, outreach, and technical support.