The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially validated Brazil for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, marking a major public health milestone and making Brazil the most populous country in the Americas to achieve this status.

The recognition reflects Brazil’s sustained commitment to universal and free access to healthcare through its Unified Health System (SUS), supported by a strong primary healthcare network and a rights-based approach to public health. The validation was announced at a ceremony in Brasília attended by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Health Minister Alexandre Padilha, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Director Dr Jarbas Barbosa, and representatives of UNAIDS.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus hailed the achievement as a landmark moment. “Eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV is a major public health achievement for any country, especially for one as large and complex as Brazil,” he said, adding that the country has demonstrated how political commitment and equitable access to quality health services can ensure that every child is born free of HIV while mothers receive the care they deserve.

Brazil met all WHO validation criteria, including reducing vertical transmission of HIV to below 2 per cent and achieving over 95 per cent coverage for prenatal care, routine HIV testing, and timely treatment for pregnant women living with HIV. The country also demonstrated strong health information and laboratory systems, high-quality maternal and infant care services, and a clear commitment to human rights, gender equality and community participation.

A key feature of Brazil’s approach was its progressive, subnational strategy. The country first certified states and municipalities with populations exceeding 100,000, adapting the PAHO–WHO validation framework to national conditions while maintaining consistency across regions. The evaluation process, supported by PAHO, involved independent experts who reviewed health data, documentation and facility-level practices. Their findings were assessed by WHO’s Global Validation Advisory Committee, which formally recommended Brazil’s certification.

Dr Jarbas Barbosa, Director of PAHO, said the achievement proves that eliminating vertical transmission of HIV is possible when women know their HIV status, receive timely treatment, and have access to quality maternal health services and safe delivery. He also credited the efforts of health professionals, community health workers and civil society organisations for sustaining continuity of care and ensuring access for vulnerable populations.

Brazil’s success forms part of the broader EMTCT Plus Initiative, which aims to eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B and congenital Chagas disease, in collaboration with UNICEF and UNAIDS. The initiative is embedded within PAHO’s Elimination Initiative, which targets the elimination of more than 30 communicable diseases and related conditions in the Americas by 2030. Between 2015 and 2024, more than 50,000 paediatric HIV infections were averted in the region as a result of EMTCT efforts.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima described Brazil’s validation as a breakthrough, noting that it is the first country with a population exceeding 100 million to achieve elimination. She highlighted Brazil’s emphasis on universal healthcare, addressing social determinants of health, protecting human rights and ensuring access to medicines as key drivers of success.

Globally, Brazil joins a group of 19 countries and territories validated by WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Twelve of these are in the Americas, including Cuba, which became the first country worldwide to achieve the milestone in 2015, followed by several Caribbean nations, Belize, Jamaica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Outside the region, countries such as Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Malaysia have also been validated.

Brazil’s validation underscores the impact of sustained political will, strong health systems and inclusive policies in achieving the global goal of ending new HIV infections among children.