HIV in the Bahamas has fluctuated around the 2% marker, making it the highest rate in the Caribbean, due to mother-to-child transmission. Girls and women have a higher rate of living with HIV compared to boys and men. Early prevention efforts from the Bahamian government have caused a decline in rates and have helped ensure treatment is accessible to expectant mothers. As a result, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed and certified in April 2026 that the Bahamas has met the elimination criteria.

Meeting the WHO Elimination Criteria

To meet the elimination criteria for HIV, a country must show that pregnant women receive proper treatment and that very few babies are born with HIV. The Bahamas has proved that:

• The mother-to-child transmission rate of HIV is less than 2%
• Fewer than five children per 1,000 live births are infected
• 95% of pregnant women have access to antenatal care, HIV testing and treatment

The Bahamas now joins a group of 12 countries and territories in the Americas certified by the WHO and will continue to maintain its efforts through surveillance and inclusive care for future mothers and their families.

Early Action and Universal Antenatal Care

Beginning in the 1990s, the Bahamas took early action in preventing mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) by including screening and testing for HIV as part of routine antenatal care.

Working alongside its health care model, the Bahamas provides universal antenatal care for everyone regardless of economic or social background, supported by a strong laboratory network and testing protocol where women are screened at their antenatal appointments during each trimester.

This extensive data collection allows health care professionals to ensure that treatment remains accessible and free to mothers and to monitor how effective the treatment is in continuing to reduce HIV rates.

Integrated Health Programs and PAHO Partnership

Building on the launch of the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) initiative, through which countries integrated HIV and maternal health services into their health care systems, the Bahamas continued to expand access to its residents in 2010.

Integrated into the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) program, the Bahamas coordinates with the National Infectious Disease Programme and oversees the prevention and treatment of HIV. This monitoring ensures continued care and treatment for HIV-positive mothers and exposed infants by providing antiretroviral medicines and other family planning services free of charge.

Looking Ahead

Through sustained surveillance and a commitment to universal health care access, the Bahamas has reduced the risk of HIV transmission and other communicable diseases that pose a risk to health in the Caribbean. Furthermore, its achievement demonstrates that the elimination of mother-to-child HIV transmission is possible and offers a model for other countries working toward the same goal.

– Kianna Phosouvanh-Sythong

Kianna is based in Upper Darby, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash