Bangalore: Support for HIV + Pregnant Women

[Guest guest]

BCC doctors aid HIV women deliver

S. KUSHALA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK [WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2003 01:51:49 AM ]

BANGALORE: When the occasion demands, it is the BCC medical staff who

show they have a heart. Here is some positive proof. At a time when

private nursing homes shun pregnant women who test HIV-positive, BCC

hospital doctors delivered babies of four HIV-positive women over the

last four months. Proving critics wrong, they have gone about their

jobs, and without media fanfare too.

The BCC has initiated HIV awareness programmes and roped in Freedom

Foundation, an NGO working with HIV patients. Free counselling

centres have been set up at the BCC's three referral hospitals — on

Siddaiah Road, Ulsoor and Hosahalli. The `special cases' were

delivered in Ulsoor and Siddaiah Road hospitals.

" Now, blood samples of all pregnant women are tested. If found HIV-

positive, the women are counselled. We have trained our medical staff

to handle such patients,'' additional health officer, east, Dr M.

Vijaylakshmi, said.

Medical staff use universal precautions to avoid coming in contact

with the patient's blood or body fluids — they wear double gloves,

glasses, cap, mask and gum boots. The linen is disposed of after the

delivery.

" Since all were normal deliveries, there was no problem. Even the

Class 4 employees cooperated,'' Dr Vijaylakshmi said.

Before delivery, the women were administered anti-retroviral drug to

prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. Later, the infants were

subjected to C-reactive protein test. All babies tested HIV-negative.

" I personally attended the first case at Ulsoor. It was a great

feeling. All our staff wished for was a normal delivery, and rejoiced

to know the babies were normal, " Dr Vijaylakshmi said.

While the mothers were advised not to breast-feed the newborns, one

woman opted for it. Tests are being conducted on the child, who is

under observation.

All laboratory investigations are funded by the Freedom Foundation

and patients are not charged.

" We do not make it known to patients about their co-patient's status,

nor do we isolate her. Only during the delivery, we take extra

precautions,'' stressed additional health officer, south, Dr D.L.

Nagaratna. Three HIV-positive pregnant patients are now waiting at

Ulsoor hospital.

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