The Caribbean region has shown significant progress in reducing mother-to-baby HIV transmission according to a statement by the Pan Caribbean Partnership against HIV and AIDS Monday.

PANCAP also announced that the region has advanced in reducing the number of AIDS deaths.

"Our region has seen significant progress towards the elimination of mother-to-child-transmission of HIV. Six countries are ready for validation, and others are moving towards validation," PANCAP coordinator unit director Dereck Springer said in the statement.

The United Nations and urban leaders are pushing to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said, "Ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 requires a comprehensive approach that includes social justice, the democratization of science, gender equity, and a people-centered approach to health."

According to Ki-moon's statement on World AIDS Day 2014, about 35 million people are living with HIV where 19 million people do not know they are carrying the virus.

PANCAP coordinator explained that less people are dying from AIDS in the Caribbean because the key groups living with HIV are targeted to receive treatment and support services.

St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and PANCAP's chairman Denzil Douglas urged that the Caribbean region continue its efforts in preventing the spread of HIV and AIDS.

Under the UNAIDS Melbourne program, it is expected that by the year 2020, 90 percent of people infected with HIV will be aware that they have the virus and 90 percent of those people will get treatment.

Lastly, 90 percent of HIV-infected persons will have viral loads low enough to pose no risk of transmitting the disease by 2020.

"There is need to ensure that the principles of the ambitious 90-90-90 goals established at the 20th International AIDS Conference in Melbourne in July 2014 are achieved," Douglas said.

On World AIDS Day Monday, mayors from around the world came together in Paris to sign a declaration vowing to achieve the 90-90-90 targets in about five years.