Babies of HIV patients to be tested at four weeks

[Guest guest]

Babies of HIV patients to be tested at four weeks

New Delhi, Oct 18 (IANS) The government is to carry out HIV tests on

four-week-old and above babies of all AIDS patients – a significant decision

aimed at reducing infant mortality due to the killer disease and improve child

health conditions.

`Early diagnosis of HIV among kids will lead to early treatment. This will

benefit the children as well as their families,' A. Khera, joint director of

National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), told .

Earlier, the government had a rule to conduct HIV tests on children after they

reached two years.

The old rule has been modified, and the change will be implemented `very soon'

across several states, he said. As per the new rule, children of HIV infected

parents will undergo the required test when they reach the fourth week of their

birth.

`This will help us find out whether the disease transmission has taken place or

not. If yes, then anti retroviral treatment will start very soon. This will help

them stay healthy and live longer,' Khera added.

He said initially the scheme would be rolled out in high-prevalent states like

Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Manipur and Maharashtra. `Following that,

it will be done across the country,' explained the joint director.

India is home to around 2.5 million HIV positive people, of whom around 40

percent are female and a little more than three percent are children below age

15. The primary reason behind the HIV infection among kids is mother to child

transmission.

Several NGOs working for the betterment of HIV positive people will help the

government in implementing the new plan successfully.

Welcoming the decision, India HIV/AIDS Alliance, an NGO working in four states

of India, said it was a great move and would prevent infected children from

slipping into malnourishment during the early stages.

http://trak.in/news/babies-of-hiv-patients-to-be-tested-at-four-weeks/15218/

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

Re: /message/10855

The Indian Governments decision to carry out HIV tests on 4 weeks old infant of

known HIV status of parents is indeed laudable.

By this way we shall be able to detect this dreaded disease at an early stage

which will enable us to seek health care facility and start ART at the earliest

to avoid further complications.

All sections of the society should cooperate for this noble cause.

" Dhruba "

e-mail:<dj_b20@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Re: /message/10855

This suggestion will not do. Pregnant mothers have to be given Nevaparine

previous to birth, and then mothers should not breastfeed the child or the

breast milk should be pasteasurized or boiled before given to the child.

Simple enough explanations. Mother's milk is good to boost immunity of child but

only if temperature is raised slightly tokill the virus in breast milk.

Why cannot the Indian doctors help me out with this.

Thank you,

Sincerely,

Priyadarshi Datta, PLWA.

e-mail: <pdatta@...>