340 children in Delhi born with HIV in a year

"Of around three lakh children born in Delhi every year, our estimate is that 340 of them are infected with the AIDS virus which they have contracted from their mothers," JP Kapoor, Additional Project Director of the Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) said.

As many as 340 infants are estimated to be suffering from HIV/AIDS at the time of birth in the capital every year.

HT Image

Faced with the grim figure and other worrying statistics showing a rise in prevalence of the disease among pregnant women, a silent campaign has begun in the capital to ensure that not only is the child protected from the disease but the mother also benefits from Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART).

"Of around three lakh children born in Delhi every year, our estimate is that 340 of them are infected with the AIDS virus which they have contracted from their mothers," JP Kapoor, Additional Project Director of the Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS) said.

At the 10 Prevention of Parent-to-Child Transmission Centres (PPTCs) in Delhi, this year so far 49 pregnant women were given the anti-AIDS drug Neviraprine, which has been found to be very effective in preventing the spread of the disease from the mother to the child.

The drug is being given free of cost at the PPTCs to pregnant women suffering from the disease.

"The drug, if administered to the mother four hours before the child is born, is effective in preventing infection in the child," Kapoor said.

"The women also benefit from ART therapy, which is also given to them free of cost," he said.

He informed that there has been an increase in the number of pregnant women coming to the PPTCs.

Last year, 44 HIV-positive women had come to the Centres and were given the drug Neviraprine.