Denmark Becomes EU’s First Country to Eliminate HIV Transmission

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.

• Elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT): Mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) is the transmission of infections such as HIV and syphilis from a mother to her child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding, which without intervention can cause infant infection, stillbirth, neonatal death or congenital diseases.
• WHO’s criteria for EMTCT include reducing the rate of infection from mother to child to less than 50 per 100,000 live births and ensuring that more than 95% of pregnant women receive testing and treatment.

Major countries of the world that achieved the EMTCT target

• Denmark has joined more than 20 countries and territories recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency medical control (EMTCT), which are progressing toward certification.
• These include countries from the Caribbean (such as– Anguilla, Antigua), South America (such as– Brazil), Africa (such as– Botswana) and Asia (Malaysia, Maldives).
• Some countries have also made progress in triple elimination, which also includes Hepatitis B, an initiative that WHO and partners continue to promote through standardized global guidance and technical support.

About WHO’s triple elimination strategy

• WHO promotes the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B through four pillars:-
• Universal antenatal care
• Integrated maternal infection testing
• Effective treatment protocols
• Strong health systems with community participation and protection of human rights.
• According to WHO criteria for EMTCT, countries must achieve very low transmission rates, keep infection in new infants below 50 per 100,000 births and ensure that more than 95% of pregnant women receive testing and treatment.
• Denmark met these strict benchmarks from the year 2021 to 2024, demonstrating excellent antenatal care coverage and a strong healthcare infrastructure along with rights-based policy.

About HIV

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) attacks the body’s immune system, particularly the CD4 cells. If not treated in time, it causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), making the body vulnerable to life-threatening infections and cancers.

About syphilis

• Syphilis is an infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It spreads through sexual contact and develops in stages, first with painless sores, then rashes, and if untreated it can cause severe damage to the heart and brain.