Denmark Eliminates Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV and Syphilis:
Denmark has been certified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the first country in the European Union to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis.Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) is the spread of infections like HIV and syphilis from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding, which without intervention can lead to infant infections, stillbirths, neonatal deaths, or congenital diseases.WHO’s criteria for EMTCT include reducing mother-to-child transmission rates to below 50 per 100,000 live births and ensuring over 95% of pregnant women receive testing and treatment.Denmark joins over 20 countries and territories worldwide validated by WHO for EMTCT or progressing toward certification. These include nations in the Caribbean (e.g., Anguilla, Antigua), South America (e.g., Brazil), Africa (e.g., Botswana), and Asia (Malaysia, Maldives).
