The World Health Organization (WHO) has certified Denmark for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV and syphilis, marking a significant public health milestone. The validation recognizes Denmark’s sustained efforts to ensure that every child is born free from these infections. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the achievement as evidence that strong political commitment, consistent investment in primary health care, and integrated maternal and child health services can effectively protect pregnant women and newborns.
The certification followed assessments by WHO’s Regional Validation Committee in June 2025 and the Global Validation Advisory Committee in August 2025. Denmark met all required targets between 2021 and 2024, including maintaining very low transmission rates and achieving high coverage of prenatal testing and treatment. As the first European Union country to reach this milestone, Denmark demonstrated that elimination requires testing and treating at least 95% of pregnant women while keeping new infant infections below 50 per 100,000 births consistently over time.
This success reflects decades of commitment by Denmark’s clinical and public health professionals, supported by a strong universal health-care system that guarantees equal access to services. Integrated screening during pregnancy, robust laboratory capacity, reliable data systems, and a rights-based approach to care were central to achieving elimination. Danish health authorities emphasized that the milestone is both an honor and a responsibility, expressing hope that their experience can inspire other countries and pledging to continue efforts toward eliminating hepatitis B as part of a broader “triple elimination” goal.
Denmark now joins 22 other countries and territories worldwide that have been validated by WHO for eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis, or hepatitis B, or certified as being on the path to elimination. WHO continues to work with Denmark to advance validation for hepatitis B, further strengthening its maternal and child health achievements.
Denmark’s low infection rates have been key to this outcome. Approximately 5,950 people are living with HIV in the country, with less than 0.1% of pregnant women affected, and routine testing and treatment have reduced mother-to-child HIV transmission to zero. Chronic hepatitis B infection prevalence is estimated at 0.2–0.3%, primarily among migrants from endemic regions. Congenital syphilis remains rare due to systematic prenatal screening, and while 626 syphilis cases were reported in 2024—mostly among men—cases in women remain comparatively low. These figures underscore the effectiveness of Denmark’s comprehensive prenatal care and public health systems.
