Copenhagen, March 1, 2026 – The Europe Today: World Health Organization (WHO) has officially certified Denmark for the elimination of mother-to-child transmission (EMTCT) of HIV and syphilis, marking a significant public health milestone and recognising the country’s sustained commitment to protecting maternal and child health.
Major Public Health Achievement
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the achievement as a testament to Denmark’s strong political commitment and investment in integrated primary care.
“The elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis marks a major public health achievement for Denmark,” he said. “This milestone demonstrates that with strong political commitment and consistent investment in primary care and integrated maternal and child health services, countries can protect every pregnant woman and newborn from these diseases.”
The validation follows assessments conducted by WHO’s Regional Validation Committee in June 2025 and the Global Validation Advisory Committee (GVAC) in August 2025. The review confirmed that Denmark met all required targets between 2021 and 2024, including maintaining low transmission rates and achieving high coverage of prenatal testing and treatment.
First EU Country to Reach Milestone
Hans Henri P. Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, noted that Denmark is the first European Union country to achieve this milestone.
“Elimination means testing and treating at least 95 out of every 100 pregnant women – and keeping new infant infections below 50 per 100,000 births, year after year,” Kluge said. “Denmark has met these benchmarks through strong antenatal care, reliable data systems and respect for women’s rights.”
He added that WHO will continue supporting Denmark as it works toward “triple elimination” by adding hepatitis B to its validated achievements.
Decades of Sustained Commitment
Denmark’s success reflects decades of coordinated efforts by healthcare professionals, midwives and public health authorities, supported by universal health coverage and integrated screening during pregnancy. The country’s advanced data systems, strong laboratory capacity and high human rights standards have played a central role.
Sophie Løhde, Denmark’s Minister for the Interior and Health, described the validation as a proud national moment.
“This validation by WHO is the result of decades of work by our health-care professionals, midwives and public health teams to ensure that every pregnant woman receives the screening and care she needs,” she said. “Denmark’s universal health system – built on equal access for all – has been the foundation of this achievement.”
She added that Denmark hopes its experience will inspire other nations and expressed confidence in completing the journey toward full triple elimination with the inclusion of hepatitis B.
Part of a Global Effort
Denmark now joins 22 other countries and territories validated by WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis or hepatitis B virus, or certified as being on the path to elimination. These include Cuba, Thailand, Brazil, Botswana, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Oman and several Caribbean nations.
WHO continues to work closely with Denmark as it advances toward full triple elimination, reinforcing the country’s role as a model for rights-based, data-driven and equitable maternal health systems.
