8 PHCs to Have HIV Testing Facility Soon: Rangas

PUDUCHERRY: HIV testing facilities would soon be introduced in eight Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the UT, Chief Minister N Rangasamy announced on Thursday.The CM said this while addressing a gathering at a function organised by Pondicherry AIDS Control Society (PACS) at Rajiv Gandhi Women and Child Hospital on the occasion of World AIDS Day.Sources said, of the eight PHC’s, six are in Puducherry, while two are in Karaikal. Counsellors for this purpose would be provided under the National Rural Health Mission. The PHCs in Villianur, Thurubivanai, Katterikuppam, Nettapakkam, Bahour and Thavalakuppam have been identified for the purpose in Puducherry, while in Kariakal, the PHCs in Nedungadu and Vizhidiyur would be provided the facilities.Cases Down by 50 PcAccording to the Chief Minister, prevalence of HIV in the UT has come down to 0.28 per cent, well below the national average of 0.31 per cent. The government is making all efforts  to bring this figure to zero, the CM added.Dr K V Raman, director, Health and Family Welfare and vice chairman of PACS, said there has been a declining trend in HIV infection with the number of cases in the UT coming down by 50 per cent.Giving a clearer picture, Dr D Gurumurthy, who delivered the project report, said there are  around 11,690 HIV infected persons living in the Union Territory at present. Of these, 1,555 persons have registered for Anti- Retroviral Treatment (ART), out of which 1,144 are undergoing the therapy at present, Dr  Gurumurthy said.Mother to Child Infection NilThe UT has been able to completely check the transmission of the virus from mother to child, Rajiv Gandhi Women and Children Hospital medical superintendent Dr T B Kasthuri said. Since 2009, babies born to HIV positive mothers have all tested negative for the virus, Dr Kasthuri said. Moreover, the number of pregnant women opting for voluntary HIV testing has gone up from 30 per cent in 2004 to 99 per cent at present, Dr Kasthuri said, adding that this was a healthy trend.During labour, the HIV infected mothers are given prophylactic treatment by administering a drug called nevirapine, which prevents the infection from reaching their babies.Mobile VanThe Chief Minister also flagged off a mobile publicity van to spread awareness of HIV and presented the best performance award to JIPMER and the best NGO award to Sahodaran.