10 per cent of AIDS affected are children

[Guest guest]

10 per cent of AIDS affected are children

The Hindustan Times 6 November 2001, New Delhi.

IN 1986, THE number of people who were reported to be

infected with the HIV virus in India was 6. In less

than 15 years, in 2001, that number has risen to 4

million. And about 10 per cent of these are children.

Further, according to the Delhi-based Indian Academy

of Paediatrics, 200 children are infected with the

virus every day and 11,000 of them die of it every

year. Ironically, of the 27 million deliveries every

year, 1.3 lakhs occurs in mothers who are

HIV-positive.

Is it possible to control this silent epidemic from

exploding in the country? And is it possible through

awareness programmes and counselling sessions to

educate the public about how the virus can be

contained? These and other related issues will come up

for discussion at a national conference being

organised by the Academy on November 3 and 4 this

week.

Senior doctors said on Thursday that though the

Academy has not conducted a survey, it is highly

possible that mother-to-child transmission of the

virus accounts for nearly 40 per cent of all

HIV-positive cases among children. Drug abuse and

risky sexual behaviour constitute around 15 per cent

of HIV infection among children and young adolescents.

The doctors also spoke about AIDS orphans’, both of

whose parents have died of the disease. Again, though

there are no figures available, it is likely that the

number would be running into thousands. The problem is

compounded if the child is also infected with the

virus. NGOs can assume a very important role in this

regard, the doctors suggested.

They emphasised that every pregnant woman should be

counselled for screening for the virus during

ante-natal check-ups. It is not an expensive test and

is also the first step towards prevention. An HIV test

is not mandatory in India at present. In case, the

mother is infected, there are drugs in the market now

that can, with the right dosage, prevent the virus

from maturing.

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Dr. Jagdish Harsh

François-Xavier Bagnoud (INDIA)(www.fxb.org)

E-mail: jharsh@...

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