Whether a woman is a mother today, or a mother to be, her health is paramount -- both for her own productivity and quality of life, and that of the next generation. One way that we can help to support women -- and their children -- is by ensuring that all mothers receive the essential health services they need, including for HIV.

The battle to eliminate new HIV infection in children is being won, family by family, facility by facility, nurse by nurse, and country by country.

Last week UNAIDS released two reports -- its annual World AIDS Day report "Results" and the bi-annual "Global Report on the AIDS Epidemic." Both reports have one message: The pace of progress is unprecedented.

Getting to zero new infections can be done -- with access to treatment and proper care, many HIV positive women have choices they might not have otherwise.

By committing to the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, Zimbabwe has ensured that its children will not only survive, but have the opportunity to thrive.

The fact that an HIV-positive woman can have an HIV-negative baby is one of the greatest but least known success stories in the 30-year fight against AIDS.