AP govt assures help to HIV+ mothers

Uma Sudhir (NDTV.COM)
Monday, August 13, 2007 (Hyderabad)
In the 60th year of independence, it will be freedom from HIV at birth, something that the Andhra Pradesh government is promising every child born to an HIV positive mother.

Expectant mothers are being counselled at a government hospital in Hyderabad to take a HIV test. In case they test positive, they can opt for medicines that can keep their baby healthy.

''I am five months pregnant. After knowing that there are medicines to protect the baby, I feel I must keep the baby, though my mother and husband said I should go for medical termination of pregnancy,'' said Lavanya, an HIV+ patient.

Children account for 5-10 per cent of all HIV infections and 90 per cent get the virus through their mother.

Bold target

In 2005, out of 16 lakh deliveries in Andhra Pradesh, over 8,000 babies were born HIV positive. The government has now set for itself a bold target of 0/7, meaning not a single baby should be born HIV positive by the end of 2007.

''By the end of December, we should be able to get 8000 to 9000 positive mothers, that's 80-90 per cent of positive mothers and every identified positive mother should be followed up till delivery and upto 18 months,'' said Asok Kumar, Project Director, APSACS.

''Knowing that children can be saved, we have now got the confidence and are going to have twins,'' said an HIV+ couple.

A whole new generation born free of the HIV virus is a dream worth working towards.