70 Mothers test HIV positive in Tema

Seventy mothers tested positive for HIV in the Tema Metropolis from January and June, out of which 49 were put on the Anti-Retroviral (ARV) drug, the Metropolitan Health Directorate has revealed.

Forty seven of babies born were put on the Anti-Retroviral prophylaxis while test conducted on 55 babies of HIV positive pregnant women from 16 to 18 weeks proved negative during the period.

Speaking at the World AIDS day in Tema on the theme: “Accelerating National Response towards the Millennium Development Goals, Dr John Yabani, Metro Director of Health, said one of the main aims of his outfit is to Prevent the Mother-To-Child transmission; that is to help the positive mother to deliver a baby who is HIV negative.

“When a pregnant woman registers for antenatal care, we do HIV counselling and testing if she is positive, then she is placed on treatment and observed till delivery and the child is placed on treatment and that can achieve a good result,” he said.

He called for the expansion of accommodation facilities to cater for the ever increasing clients, as well as the availability of test kits and the training of the medical staff in counselling.

Dr Yabani noted that those who are usually affected by HIV fall between 20 and 30 age bracket, who are obviously in their reproductive period.

He said HIV counselling and testing is provided at Tema General Hospital, Tema Poly Clinic and the Manhean Health Centre while private facilitates including Bengali Hospital, Narh Bita Hospital, Port Medical centre also provide the service.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive, Mr Isaac Ashai Odamtten, said to accelerate the National response towards the Millennium Development Goal and to eliminate the Mother-To-Child transmission, there is a need to encourage every pregnant woman in the Metropolis to visit the health facilities to test and know their status.

He cautioned the youth not to indulge in indiscriminate sex in order not to contract the virus as the Christmas festivities approaches.