Denmark becomes First Country in the European Union to Eliminate Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis
Denmark has become the first European Union country to be certified by the WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Denmark for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis, making it the first country in the European Union to reach this milestone. This achievement is the result of decades of commitment to a universal health system that provides integrated maternal and child health services, ensuring at least 95% of pregnant women are tested and treated. By maintaining new infant infections below 50 per 100 000 births and utilising robust data and laboratory systems, Denmark has met the strict benchmarks required for validation. While the country has successfully reduced mother-to-child transmission of these two infections to zero, it is now working toward "triple elimination" by incorporating hepatitis B virus into its validation process.
Denmark joins a group of 22 other countries and territories recognised globally for similar achievements, serving as a model for how rights-based policies and high-quality prenatal care can protect the next generation.
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