15% of HIV transmits through breast feeding
'Study materials to be provided to all CLHIVs at JNIMS'
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, July 07 2012: "Around 15% of HIV infection is transmitted from mother to child through breast feeding.

If exclusive artificial feeding is done upto 6 months, the rate of HIV transmission can be reduced to a considerable level, thus cutting down the rate of HIV and AIDS in the state", exclaimed Dr Apabi Hijam, Programme Director, Paediatric Centre of Excellence (PCoE), JNIMS.

Dr Apabi Hijam, who initiated launching of the programme on "Campaign for Education and ART Adherence" at JNIMS on May 11 last, pointed out that even National AIDS Control Programme does not have specific programmes for exclusive artificial feeding, for reasons best known to them.

The officials concerned of the state government need to be sensitised on this issue so that exclusive artificial feeding is carried out by HIV positive mothers to reduce rate of HIV transmission to new born babies.

Dr Apabi Hijam, while speaking to media persons today at the conference hall of JNIMS, informed that as a part of the "Campaign for Education and ART Adherence", the staffs of PCoE have come up with the noble initiative of helping Children Living with HIV and AIDS (CLHIVs) in whatever way they could.

As an encouragement and to give moral support to the CLHIVs, study materials would be provided to every child coming to collect ART at JNIMS.

Dr Apabi observed that today HIV and AIDS are being taken as chronic and manageable diseases just like diabetes, heart and kidney diseases.

Many CLHIVs have crossed the age of 18 years with good health and good academic career.

Some of them have even got good jobs in government as well as private sectors.

He clarified that the fund for providing study materials to CLHIVS is not funded by any foreign funding agency or NACO.

It is being mobilized by certain philanthropists of the state who have the desire and the will to do something for CLHIVs.

Among them include T Nimai, proprietor of M /S NT Enterprises.

"Even the Director of JNIMS has issued an order to make free basic investigations like X-ray, ALT and KFT and the like for CLHIVs as a contribution from the side of JNIMS", he added.

Stressing on the need to establish a Trust where funds from donors can be deposited and used in the interest of the CLHIVs.

Dr Apabi maintained that this way the taxes of the philanthropists could also be exempted for their noble act.

It may be mentioned that PCoE is one of the six centres in India and the only referral centre for the North East states set up under NACO.

The facilities provided under the PCoE include research work, training, special investigation and treatment, etc.

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