Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, February 27:

The government launched comprehensive services for the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Nepal (PMTCT) at Indra Rajya Laxmi Prasuti Griha today to reduce the number of HIV infected infants from 40 per cent to half by the end of 2006.

Dr Ram Prasad Shrestha, director of National Centre for AIDS and STD Control (NCASC) said that among the 5,000 cases, 30 per cent are women. Hence there is a high risk that babies born from HIV infected mothers, too, will be infected. “Hence the PMTCT is an intervention programme designed to reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of HIV,” said Shrestha.

“Out of the nine lakh annual pregnancies, 1,800 are estimated to occur in HIV-positive women, leading to an annual cohort of 450 to 810 newborns,” said Shrestha. The programme is starting with 250 mothers and their new borns.

“Children born with HIV have a very high mortality rate. They are over four times more likely to die at the age of two than normal children,” said Shrestha.

According to him, the comprehensive package for mothers, infants and partners includes HIV counselling and testing, Anti Retro Viral therapy, infant feeding counselling and support, safe obstetrical care, family planning counselling and referral services.

Dr Shankar Sharma, the vice-chairman of National Planning Commission said that if the disease is not checked on time then it would create a serious social problem.

Till date, 93 cases of HIV infected children, less than 15 years, have been reported. However, the estimated number is 10 times higher as AIDS symptoms are likely to be missed in most of the cases. Five to 10 per cent of infants are infected during pregnancy,15 per cent during labour and delivery and five to 15 per cent are infected during breast-feeding.

Mohan Bahadur Karki, the Ministry of Health secretary, said the programme aims to protect the HIV infected person’s right to live. “The MoH is planning to extend it to regional hospitals,” said Karki.

Dr Suomi Sakai, the UNICEF country representative, said the PMTCT services should be started as an integral programme in every hospital to protect the reproductive health of women and should act as a referral for care and support of HIV infected mothers and infants.

Sakai stressed on concerted effort of the family, doctors, counsellors and neighbours to overcome the stigma and let the infected person live a normal life.