Maldives has eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, joining first few countries in the world to ensure a generation free of these deadly diseases, World Health Organization said today.

“This commendable achievement has been made possible by strong political commitment, active community engagement, invaluable contributions of health workers and sustained collaboration of partner organizations,” said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, at a felicitation ceremony in Male for elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.

Maldives is the second country in WHO South-East Asia Region to achieve this feat, after Thailand. Globally, congenital syphilis is the second leading cause of preventable still births while mother-to-child transmission of HIV accounts for 9% new infections.

WHO certification of Maldives’ follows confirmations and validations by national, regional and global teams that no woman or infant was detected with HIV or syphilis in the country in the last two years.