Consultation Meeting on Early Infant Diagnosis (EID)

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Consultation Meeting on Early Infant Diagnosis (EID)

 

In India, a UNICEF report summarized that it possibly has 150,000 vertically infected children, and 2,000,000 children with HIV positive parents. NACO estimates that 57,000 children are infected at birth in India each year and is yet to finalize the estimates of children infected with HIV. Out of over 70,000 children living with HIV registered in 2009, approximately only one third received ART.[1] In Manipur, there are 33,408.[2] HIV positive cases out of which nearly 4000 are children below 18 years and of which only 17% are on ART at the district level ART centres.

 

The CHAHA programme, by March 2010, in Manipur has extended care and support services to 3421 children below 18 years living with and affected by HIV from approximately 1972 households from six districts of Manipur. On one hand, the living condition and quality of life of the children and their families have improved to some extend, and on the other, few children have died at their early ages without even knowing their status. By the end of March 2010, 30 children have died and it has been found that almost 83% of the children were from the age group of 0-5 years and surprisingly, nearly 56% of the children had not tested for HIV.

 

It has also been found that asymptomatic children under 18 months old are not getting diagnosed and are missing out on prevention, care, support and treatment. With the tremendous expansion in HIV programme in PPTCT, ICTC, ART (for adults and children) including access to early diagnosis for HIV testing of infants and children < 18 months old – it is now possible to ensure that HIV exposed and infected infants and children receive the required essential package of care.

 

National essential package of care for HIV exposed infants and children < 18 months

 

The National Essential Package of Care for the HIV-exposed infants and children < 18 months includes:

 

ARV prophylaxis post delivery within 72 hours (as part of PPTCT regimen to give prophylaxis to mother-baby pair)

Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis for all HIV-exposed infants and children born to HIV positive mothers from 6 weeks of age (coinciding with the first immunization visit) unless HIV infection is reliably excluded.

·         HIV testing to determine HIV status of the infant/child: HIV DNA PCR or antibody test depending on age of the infant/child

·         Regular follow-up for clinical, development and growth monitoring

·         Immunizations as per the national/state schedule

·         Nutrition counseling for parents/caregiver to ensure appropriate infant feeding practices including weaning and complementary feeding

ART and other treatment when indicated

 

Considering the importance of early testing of children before they attain 18 months so as to get early treatment and to raise people’s awareness on Early Infant Diagnosis (EID), SASO, the Sub Recipient of CHAHA programme along with its partners is organizing a one day Consultation Workshop with the following objectives:

 

To make available of the facilities under the NACO’s National Essential Package of Care for the HIV-exposed infants and children less than 18 months to the children of Manipur.

To create public awareness on the facility and benefits of EID

 

In this regard, SASO request you to kindly join the consultation meeting and share your valuable inputs on Saturday the 29th May, 2009 at Conference Hall, Manipur State AIDs Control Society (MACS), R & D Wing, Lamphelpat, Imphal from 11 am. Any interested NGO are most welcome although we are not in the position to provide travel and logistic.  

[1] India 2010 UNGASS Country Progress Report

[2] MACS Epidem data September 2009

 

 

 

SASO - Social Awareness Service OrganisationUripok Sinam LeikaiOpposite Common SchoolImphal - 795001 MANIPURPh.no. +91 385 2414011/2411408 Fax.no.+91 385 2411409.e-mail : contact@... &

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