Malnutrition worsens in children with HIV/AIDS

June 19, 2009

The health of seven children with HIV/AIDS at shelters in East Nusa Tenggara is

jeopardized by weak immune systems and malnutrition, an executive said Monday.

The provincial HIV/AIDS commission secretary Husein Pancratius said the

children, all aged under 5 years old, were susceptible to catching other

diseases such as diarrhea and tuberculosis, due to their weak health conditions.

" Malnourished children have low immune systems so they contract other diseases

easily. The children are currently at malnutrition rehabilitation centers, "

Pancratious said.

Husein said the children were being treated at shelters in Timor Tengah Selatan,

Belu and Manggarai regencies.

He said most of the children had contracted HIV/AIDS from being breast fed by

mothers who are HIV positive.

" Those mothers contracted HIV/AIDS from their husbands. The children are the

victims of the irresponsible behavior of their parents, " he said.

He said the children were receiving medical treatment, including antiretroviral

medication, from general hospitals in their area.

Manggarai General Hospital director Dupe Nababan said three children, two with

HIV and one with AIDS, that were currently being treated at the hospital had

contracted the disease from their parents.

" It is likely the disease was transmitted in the womb. "

Meanwhile, Antonia Lau, an operator of the Haliwen Malnutrition Rehabilitation

Center, said three malnourished children in the center were HIV positive.

" We have sent the children to Atambua General Hospital, " Antonia said.

Sources at W.Z. Yohanes General Hospital in Kupang, the capital of the province,

said the hospital had no stock of antiretroviral medication.

" We had to borrow medication from Atambua hospital. In fact, we asked for a

supply of antiretroviral medication on May 20, but we have not yet received it. "

The limited stock of antiretroviral medication may affect the treatment of 15

people with HIV/AIDS at the hospital.

Of 671 HIV/AIDS cases in the province, 199 people have died from the disease in

the past 12 years. Most people with HIV/AIDS are aged between 20 and 29 years

old.

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