Program to stop mother-to-child HIV transmission; 136 receiving ART from Palpa

Kanchanpur / November 15: A programme has been initiated at the birthing centres in Kanchanpur to stop mother to child transmission of HIV.

For this, all the 80 health workers based in the birth centres across the district have been trained. Regular examination and medication is ensured to a woman who is carrying HIV and is expecting a child, said public health inspector at the district public health office, Kanchanpur Ratan Bahadur Bista. Such mothers are taken to the Mahakali zonal hospital for child birth.

Regular medication could help an HIV infected mother give birth to a child without transmitting the virus. So far four such mother have given birth, said Bista. There are 334 people known to have been infected with HIV in Kanchanpur.

A total of 136 people with HIV have been receiving antiretroviral treatment from the United Mission Hospital in Tansen. Of them, 77 are women and 59 men, according to the hospital.

The district health office says that the total number of HIV infected in the district four years ago was 86, and it has now reached 266. It was 237 the previous year. 66 of them are single women.

HIV Aids has been emerging as an imminent threat as many people have been opting for foreign job and involved in unsafe sex. The government and various organizations have been creating awareness about the disease also targeting the migrant workers. RSS